Summer 2014 Alumni
1. Why did you apply?
Fall semester of my junior year, I took Professor Gottlieb’s Food and the Environment course, which heightened my interest in food issues. For my final paper, I researched Hong Kong’s food imports and the rise of local food in the city (i.e. rooftop farming). Although I learned from my research that there is a growing local food community in Hong Kong, I did not eat or really see local food during my time studying abroad in Hong Kong (that Spring semester). Since food justice courses are not offered at HKUST, I hoped to further my research in Hong Kong’s food justice issues through this summer research internship. 2. What was the best part of your experience? The research process itself was an amazing experience as I had the opportunity to see the city from a different angle (after having studied abroad in HK 4 months prior to this internship). One of my favorite parts of this experience actually happened after that summer. In April 2015, Rachel and I were selected to present our research findings at the Asia-Environment Conference at Bard College in New York. Not only was it exciting to share our research, but it was also great to see others interested in our project. 3. What was your research experience like? Rachel Young ’16 and I conducted field research on Hong Kong’s rooftop farming. Our mentors, Professor Gottlieb at Oxy and Professor Lau at HKUST, connected us to local students (who had done previous research on rooftop farming in HK) and rooftop farmers. We interviewed these students and farmers to learn more about the importance of rooftop farming in HK as well as its challenges, which was great as we got to meet new people and learn more about HK. 4. Would you recommend this program to other students? Why or why not? Yes! I definitely recommend this program to other Oxy students. This is not only a great opportunity for you to explore a different part of the world, but this is also a chance for you to really pursue and develop your interests. |
Rachel Young '16
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Why did you apply?
I couldn't go abroad during the school year due to scheduling conflicts, so this was a great opportunity for me to still have that experience since it was over the summer. I also wanted to gain research experience! What was the best part of your experience? Exploring Hong Kong. We didn't have a strict research schedule we had to follow, so anytime I wasn't researching, I was exploring Hong Kong! I also loved meeting all of the international students at HKUST. What was your research experience like? I partnered with Jennifer Yi '15, which made my research experience very enjoyable. Our topic was rooftop farms, which was equally exciting to learn about. You get as much out of your research project as much as you put into it, and Jenn and I took full advantage of this opportunity. We traveled around Hong Kong interviewing different rooftop farms, and were able to learn so much about not only the research process, but about our topic relative to Hong Kong's political system (which added a really interesting lens). Would you recommend this program to other students? Why or why not? Definitely. To be honest, you'd be crazy to turn down this amazing opportunity. Not only do you gain research experience, but you also get to explore a whole new country, and meet incredible people. |
Connie Li '17
Biochemistry Major Link to Research Report: Impact of Roadside Pollution on Public Health |
1. Why did you apply?
I applied to the China-Environment program hoping to learn more about the rising environmental concerns in this rapidly growing country. I was particularly interested in the air pollution aspect and the possible impacts it had on public health. As a former resident of Hong Kong, I have noticed that air quality has gradually declined over the years. There are many theories attributing the change in air quality to the emissions by factories in the neighboring Guangzhou province. The program provided me with a wonderful opportunity to take a closer look at the likely causes of this growing environmental issue. 2. What was the best part of your experience? As part of the China-Environment program, a couple of Oxy students and I were enrolled in the international summer program at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Through the summer program we had the chance to meet students from all around the world. It was a remarkable experience meeting so many people with different cultures and backgrounds and getting to explore the fascinating city with them. 3. What was your research experience like? My participation in the China-Environment program has been an invaluable experience to me. As an underclassman at the time, I definitely felt that the program has given me a better grasp to what research is actually like. I think my experience will also help me in planning and preparing for my research in the future. Additionally, it was an eye opener learning from professors, scientists, and researchers whom are experts of their fields. 4. Would you recommend this program to other students? Why or why not? I would definitely recommend this program to other students. It was a very meaningful way to spend my summer. The program gave me the opportunity to explore an intriguing topic and the vibrant city simultaneously. Through this experience I gained more insight into the environmental issues that Hong Kong presently faces. At the same time, this research experience has raised my awareness for environmental issues in my current surroundings. |
Tsering Lama '15
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Why did you apply?
In the spring of 2014, I had the opportunity to study abroad via the international honors program studying the effects of climate change in Vietnam, morocco, and Bolivia. It was a life changing experience for me. During the program, I became extremely disturbed by the rising destruction of the ecology and environment by the use of fossil fuels. I realized that renewable energy could be a panacea for this. Therefore, I did my research paper on the investment incentives in renewable energy in the emerging markets of Vietnam and morocco. With this background, the Henry Luce grant and UEPI program for Oxy students served as a perfect opportunity for me. What was the best part of your experience? The best part of experience were the transportation infrastructure and quantity of activities that Hong Kong provides. The public transportation there is the envy of the world. Additionally, as a syndicate of four Oxy students there, Hong Kong allowed me to bond with the other students more than I would have been able to while at Occidental. What was your research experience like? I was accepted to the program in April and the program began in June. Therefore, I was not prepared for the research as I should have been. My initial research consideration was ambitious but not achievable in the time in Hong Kong. However, Professor Gottlieb was instrumental in me being to slice and dice my research and produce a tangible result by the end of the program. This was achieved through multiple Skype sessions. Would you recommend this program to other students? Why or why not? Absolutely. I believe it is a tremendous and rare opportunity for students to travel abroad, learn about a new culture and nation, while conducting research on a topic they enjoy. That sounds like an easy decision to me. |