The students are the greatest strength of the Environmental Science program. Hailing from South America to Siberia and Provo to Accra, our students are seeking to understand environmental issues and develop creative and inclusive solutions. Check out the selection of student profiles below. Then come join our community of uplifting and insightful students to help us literally change the world.
STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS
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Cecilia Foster
I want to be a science journalist, more specifically an environmental reporter. By studying Environmental Science here at BYU, I can learn about the scientific basis for a lot of environmental issues and work on communicating those to a non-scientific audience. Studying Environmental Science also teaches me how to think like a scientist, while learning to talk and communicate like an activist.
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Derrek Wilson
I chose to study environmental science to understand how the natural world functions and how our interactions are affecting natural systems. I plan on going into the field of environmental law with the ultimate goal of creating environmental policy at a state or federal level. The environmental science major has provided me with scientific literacy to help me make more evidence based policy regarding environmental issues.
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Abigail Banks
I realized that I could make the difference I wanted to make in the world through majoring in Environmental Science. I'm minoring in Business and ultimately I want to do environmental nonprofit work. Studying at BYU gave me the opportunity to do my first internship at a nonprofit which made me realize how much I love it.
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Mitchell Greenhalgh
I’m very interested in how the environment is impacted by humans and how the environment impacts humans. I do research with a public health professor in addition to my main research in the environmental science program. Although my primary interests within environmental science (landscape and spatial ecology, ecological data science) aren’t really taught in the program, it’s providing me with a solid baseline that I would need to go into those fields later on.
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Isabella Errigo
I am an Environmental Science Major and International Development Minor. The ESci program has taught me a lot about environmental science, obviously, but it has also allowed me to connect my passion for environmental issues with my passions for other social injustices. I want to help nations create and enforce effective policies that reduce their emissions and promote sustainable development. I would also like to be a professor in environmental science and international development. After I retire, I want to be a park ranger.
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Sierra Curtis
I am an Environmental Science major and International Development minor.
I want to teach environmental science at community college to under represented minorities and first generation college students. I started in eco-business and while I still help with sustainable development initiatives I switched to an international development minor to better understand refugees or first generation Americans that I hope to teach someday.
I want to teach environmental science at community college to under represented minorities and first generation college students. I started in eco-business and while I still help with sustainable development initiatives I switched to an international development minor to better understand refugees or first generation Americans that I hope to teach someday.
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PHD STUDENTS
Sara Sayedi
Sara Sayedi is a Ph.D. student working on combining expert opinions to assess risk of dangerous change in Earth systems (permafrost collapse, global wildfire, and water security).
Sarah Witney
A recent BYU graduate in Psychology in Spanish, Sarah Witney hopes to use this opportunity to help her community be a positive force for the environment. She is open to learning anything and looks forward to growing her understanding of the issues and solutions. “Be the climate change you wish to see in the world.”
Qiwen Zhang
Qiwen Zhang is a Ph.D. student working on using Arctic river networks as multi-scale sensors to reveal terrestrial and aquatic signals of ecosystem change.
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MS STUDENTS
Sam Bratsman
Sam Bratsman is an M.S. student working on eutrophication in Utah Lake and the effects of climate change in the Abbott and Aanderud labs.
Hannah Burgin
Hanna Burgin is an Environmental Science master’s student conducting research about water conservation through sustainable landscaping in Utah.
Isabella Errigo
Isabella Errigo is an M.S. student studying the effects of wildfire on aquatic biodiversity in the Frandsen and Abbott labs. She is interested in the interactions between human policy and ecosystem sustainability.
Leslie Lange
Leslie Lange is an Environmental Science MS student from Modesto,California. She is studying different approaches to increasing science literacy in the public and reducing waterborne pathogens.
Madeline Malmfeldt
Madeleine Malmfeldt is a Master’s student in Environmental Science from Cumming, Georgia.
Aria McComber
Aria is a master's student in Environmental Science. She is interested in corporate sustainability, environmental health, international development, and environmental economics. Before being recruited by BYU's volleyball team, she received a degree in business administration from Washington State University.
Madeline McLaughlin
Madeline McLaughlin is a Master’s student in Environmental Science from Houston, Texas.
Adam Norris
Adam Norris is an M.S student studying soil fire responses and nutrient cycling following the Mt. Nebo Megafire of 2018.
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UNDERGRAD STUDENTS
Russel Anderson
Russel is somewhere between senior and graduating, studying physics and political science. His hobbies and work are inseparably full of research and writing, and he hopes for his career to end up in academia with a focus on tackling complex problems like climate change and political corruption. When he’s not doing any of that, he’s probably listening to music, playing video games, or talking people’s ears off about random history things.
Katie Bellows
Katie is an undergraduate student from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, studying music composition with a business minor. Her top research interests include bipartisan environmental outreach, impacts of sustainable food systems on local economies, and household perceptions of environmental cost and waste. When separated from her schoolwork, she’s usually hiking in the mountains or practicing for her next album.
Keara Bingham
Keara is an undergraduate student from Portland, Oregon studying Environmental Science and minoring in music. During the summer, Keara can be found in a small town in Alaska where she works at a fish processing plant! Her hobbies include playing the piano, running, hiking, and playing video games with her family. In the future, she hopes to focus on restoring environmental activity in different areas of her community.
Becca Black
Becca is a sophomore in Wildlife and Wildlands Conservation and is interested in restoration ecology, particularly in wetland and river systems. She is from central Wisconsin, and enjoys reading, plant ID, making bread, and writing in the third person :)
Addison Bliss
Addison is an undergraduate from Peoria, Arizona majoring in Environmental Science. She is interested in improving community and individual health by establishing gardening programs in environments such as elementary schools and urban areas. She can’t wait to encourage others to get their hands dirty and nurture the world beneath their feet. She loves reading, gardening, cooking, drawing, hiking, and meditating.
Jacob Blood
Jacob is a BYU is an undergraduate from Hurricane, West Virginia studying Environmental Science and Sustainability. He is interested in renewable energy and environmental policy and law. His hobbies include reading, writing, skateboarding, studying languages and watching movies.
Olivia Burns
Olivia Burns is an undergrad from New Richmond, Wisconsin studying Environmental Science and Sustainability and minoring in Professional Writing and Rhetoric. She is passionate about ecology, environmental law, environmental journalism, and sustainable development. In her free time, she loves backpacking, going through her camera roll, and reading (or looking at pictures in) the National Geographic.
Karoline Busche
Karoline is an Environmental Science and Sustainability student graduating in April 2024. Her research interests are water conservation, and environmental education. She loves learning languages, hiking, fashion, and laughing.
Hannah Butterfield
Hannah is an undergraduate studying Environmental Science and Sustainability. She loves learning and hopes to work with them when she graduates. She loves her current job at a greenhouse. In her free time she enjoys hiking, gardening, crocheting, playing with her cat, and visiting local restaurants.
Kristina Cass
Kristina Cass is an Ohio native and is pursuing a degree in Environmental Science with a minor in Geospatial Science and Technology.
Joshua Christensen
Joshua is an undergraduate student from Cincinnati, Ohio studying computer science. Despite his best efforts, he developed a love of Nature after years of being dragged up mountains by his tree hugging father. Now, he hopes to contribute to building a better world in whatever way he can. When he’s not furiously typing on his laptop, he enjoys playing rocket league, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, and cooking. More information can be found at https://josh.christen.se/n
Elisabeth Currit
Elisabeth is a senior studying Environmental Science and Sustainability and minoring in International Development. She is deeply passionate about a wide range of social and environmental issues, including air pollution, environmental justice, environmental policy, public land management, and gender equality, and she is especially interested in using GIS mapping and analysis to better visualize and understand these issues. She loves to read, hike, climb, and do anything outdoors, and owns an astounding number of plants (this number is continually growing). After completing her undergraduate degree, she plans to attend grad school and get a Masters’ degree and then a PhD.
Sierra Curtis Nichols
Sierra Curtis Nichols is a junior studying environmental science from Midway, UT.
Sara Frutos - Field Manager
Sara is the co-field manager in the Abbott Lab. She is a senior undergraduate from Corning, New York studying Environmental Science and Sustainability. She is passionate about protecting and preserving the beauty of the Earth. She hopes to have a career in which she can work to bring sustainable practices to business and cities. She enjoys any and all types of field work, hiking, and sports.
Sterling Fuller
Sterling Fuller is an undergraduate student from St. Louis, Missouri studying Biology.
Eliza Hammari
Eliza is an undergrad majoring in Environmental Science and Sustainability. She has a passion for protecting and preserving our beautiful earth and hopes to help others become better stewards of the fascinating world we live in. She enjoys reading, cooking, creating art of any kind, and anything outdoors.
Bethany Hurt
Bethany is an undergraduate student from Montgomery Village, Maryland studying Environmental Science with a minor in music. She hopes to work with water resource management in the future. Some of her passions include playing piano and ukulele, singing in the BYU Women’s Chorus, hiking, cooking, Lord of the Rings, and sword fighting.
Shannon Lambson - Field Manager
Shannon Lambson is the co-field manager in the lab and an undergraduate studying Environmental Science and Sustainability. Her interests include wildlife conservation, improving women’s health in developing countries, and watching reruns of the Crocodile Hunter.
Leen Lindsey
Leen is a sophomore undergrad from Simi Valley, California studying Environmental Science and Sustainability. He is also minoring in business with hopes of pursuing a career involving sustainability within businesses. He enjoys spending his free time lifting weights at the gym and trying new foods.
Audrey Lofthouse
Audrey is an undergraduate student studying Environmental Science and Sustainability with a minor in Geospatial Science and Technology (GIS). She has lived in various places, including Ohio, Michigan, Florida, Colorado, and Germany, and enjoys the outdoors wherever she goes. Her hobbies include trail running, crossfit, calligraphy, and traveling. She hopes to pursue atmospheric science/climatology in graduate school, after which she can eventually just “do science” for a living, and maybe even live in Antarctica for a bit.
Alex Long
Alex is a BYU undergraduate student from Houston, Texas studying Environmental Science and Sustainability. He enjoys spending time in nature with his friends and family, playing basketball, and photography.
Ethan McQuhae
Ethan is an undergraduate from Fort Worth, Texas, studying Environmental Science and Sustainability. He is an avid lover of all things plantae. In his free time he loves to hike, eat pizza, and hunt for new plants he hasn’t seen before. He hopes to help others understand the importance of plants in the environment and how we can be better stewards of our great, big planet.
Kylee Mecate
Kylee is an undergraduate from Imperial, California. She’s majoring in Wildlife and Wildlands Conservation, and she’s always had a passion for animals, being outside, and the beach/ocean.
Hannah Mikesell
Hannah is an undergraduate student from San Diego, California studying Biodiversity & Conservation with an Environmental Science & Sustainability minor. They’re passionate about wildlife conservation, combating climate change, and equality. They love learning new facts about various species, hiking, video games, and losing themselves in a good story.
Savannah Muise
Savannah Muise is an Exercise Science major from Alberta, Canada who will be pursuing a medical degree.
Megan Nebeker
Megan is an undergraduate student studying exercise science from Oregon. She loves learning more about the environment, and ways that we can protect it. She is planning on becoming a physical therapist. In her spare time she enjoys go hiking, visit national parks, and play tennis.
Jansen Nipko
Jansen Nipko is from West Jordan Utah and is an engaged student in the Environmental Science and Sustainability major. Since his freshman year at BYU, he has been working in the Aanderud lab, involved in projects with CoVid tracing in campus wastewater and microbial DNA extraction/analysis of arctic soil samples. He has spent the last two summers working under Dr. Ben Abbott in the frozen tundra of Northern Alaska doing research on Arctic river systems and photo-biodegradability of Arctic river carbon. Jansen loves backcountry skiing, singing to Broadway tunes, climbing, and watching rom-coms.
Baylie Nusink
Baylie Nusink is an undergraduate studying Environmental Science. She currently studies how wildfires and rodents influence plant invasions in forest and desert ecosystems.
Harriet Parkinson
Harriet is an undergraduate student from Boise, Idaho studying Geography with an emphasis in Urban and Regional Planning. She looks forward to professional opportunities to advocate for sustainable development, but for now celebrates individual actions such as buying all of her clothes second-hand. In her free time, Harriet can be found outside hiking or playing ultimate frisbee.
Audrey Rathke
Audrey is an undergraduate studying Environmental Science and Sustainability. She loves water and is striving to learn anything about water: lakes, streams, ponds, oceans, etc. She is intrigued with all of the biological, chemical, physical, and geographical components of freshwater and saltwater systems. When she is not learning, Audrey enjoys decorating cakes, painting, photography, water skiing, tennis, and reading.
Thomas Richards
Thomas Richards is an undergraduate student studying Wildlife and Wildlands conservation with minors in French and Chinese.
Robby Sainsbury - Data Manager
Robby is the data manager for the lab. He is a senior from Idaho studying statistics at BYU. He enjoys using data to solve complex and important problems. He is currently involved in research on the impacts of megafire events on stream chemistry and trends in harmful algal blooms in Utah Lake. He is also interested in researching the social determinants of health, specifically to improve health outcomes for those in vulnerable communities. After graduation he plans to pursue a Master of Public Health degree. In his free time he enjoys listening to podcasts and exploring nature with his wife.
Kirsten Steele
Kirsten is an undergrad studying Mechanical Engineering. She wants to be a real scientist when she grows up. She enjoys biking as a mode of ‘long’ distance travel, rollerblading in random parking lots and/or along the provo river, playing with electronics and reading Brandon Sanderson or psychology books.
Dion Tapahe
Dion Tapahe is a senior majoring in Environmental Science and minoring in American Indian Studies.
Katy Thomas
Katy is an undergrad studying Environmental science and minoring in Business and Urban and Regional Planning. She hopes to help cities and companies become more sustainable through planning and consulting. In her free time she likes to read books, play video games and cook. She hopes to make a difference by making the world a little bit better than it was before.
Nathan Thompson
Nathan is an undergraduate from Rexburg, Idaho studying Environmental Science and Sustainability. He has a passion for outdoor recreation and helping others get involved in those types of activities (backcountrybasics.org). He cares deeply for the environment and hopes to help everyone to become better stewards of this beautiful world.
Megan White
Megan is an undergraduate student at BYU studying Environmental Science and Sustainability with a minor in music. In the future, she hopes to work as a sustainability counselor and help large cities transition to renewable energy sources. She enjoys reading, drawing, sewing, cooking, making music, and anything to do with the outdoors.
Heidi Wilding Mann - Lab Manager
Heidi Wilding Mann is the lab manager in the Abbott Lab. She is a Senior studying Environmental Science and Sustainability. Heidi loves to stay busy (sometimes too busy!) and her passions include learning, teaching, and watching Survivor! She has a specific interest in ecology and would like to get masters and doctorate degrees in this field.
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Today we are faced with a challenge that calls for a shift in our thinking, so that humanity stops threatening its life-support system. We are called to assist the Earth to heal her wounds and in the process heal our own—indeed to embrace the whole of creation in all its diversity, beauty and wonder. Recognizing that sustainable development, democracy and peace are indivisible is an idea whose time has come
WANGARI MAATHAI
