Background
School and Major: Tulane University: Bachelor of Science in Public Health Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine: Master of Science in Public Health in Environmental Health Sciences
How did you get interested in environmental justice? What drew you to NASA?
Studying environmental health in New Orleans, we often had real world examples of environmental health issues from the city or surrounding areas used in our classes. In a city with such a strong sense of community, it was hard not to see the human impact of environmental injustice. The stories of marginalized communities of color being subjected to the numerous detrimental health effects of toxic waste exposure in areas close to my new home brought feelings of anger and frustration. It ignited a passion and determination to be a force that incites change for the community. This was personally meaningful to me because, as an Asian American I have experienced the value of living in a diasporic center. Living in a place surrounded by others who share your culture and ethnic background can relieve minority stress and help in feeling connected to your community. To think one’s entire community could be subjected to a slew of health hazards, in a place that should have been a space of safety and joy, struck me quite deeply. It is my firm belief that health is a human right, and this must encompass both physical and mental wellbeing.
When I finished my master’s program in environmental health, I wanted to expand my skillset in geospatial techniques for environmental justice. I applied to the NASA DEVELOP program as it seemed like a great fit for learning new skills and connecting with others that shared my passions. Participating in the Fall 2022 term at the Virtual Environmental Justice Node, I learned a great deal of technical skills, but I felt the most valuable part of the experience was what I learned from my teammates and how I connected with them all as people. I really enjoyed working with people from different disciplines, as we all shared a passion for environmental justice work and a curiosity to learn. Through my DEVELOP internship, I found out about the EEJ Research Support position, and it felt like a perfect transition to learning more about how NASA can participate in environmental justice work.
Describe what your work is like at NASA. What’s your favorite part of the job so far?
It has been exciting to be working in the EEJ program as it is in its early stages. I believe NASA has a unique role in the world of environmental justice, and with the field gaining more attention, we are all striving to put our best work forward. The environmental justice movement began with grassroots organizations, and although it is exciting that federal agencies and researchers are becoming more involved in the movement, it can be challenging at times to navigate how to engage with environmental justice from this perspective. I believe it is important for us to build trust, maintain relationships, and see things through. As interns, we are given a lot of freedom to come up with creative solutions or ideas and explore our personal interests. I am particularly interested in bridging the gap between research, communities, and social change. I have enjoyed researching methods for equitable community based participatory research where communities are empowered as leaders in the research process, as well as working on science communication and outreach projects. I have also had the opportunity to work with another team under NASA’s Community Action program called Prizes and Challenges, which focuses on crowdsourcing ideas from people all over the world through incentivized competitions. I have had the chance to work on environmental justice-related projects under Prizes and Challenges, which has been just as exciting as we work to incorporate environmental justice into more and more NASA projects.
My favorite part of the job has been working with such a great a team. Similar to my experience with DEVELOP, our team is filled with a diverse array of knowledge. I have been so grateful to collaborate with and learn from my fellow teammates! We always have great conversations during our daily tag ups, and usually this is where we come up with our best ideas.
What are your goals?
As a recent graduate I am still figuring out my goals, but I hope to find where and how I can contribute my skills and passion to my fullest potential to create change. The things I love most about science are creative thinking, the ability to try, fail, and learn from our mistakes, and the fact that we’re always learning new things. I want to push more scientists to think in new ways and continue learning from people from different backgrounds and across different disciplines. In particular, I hope to continue pushing for equitable community-based research that is led by communities and supported by researchers that results in actionable change. I think that connection and collaboration between different, diverse groups of people is something that will be key in advancing environmental justice. I hope to continue learning from those around me and come up with new solutions that will bring positive change to those suffering environmental injustice.
What are your hobbies?
In my free time, I enjoy being creative through different outlets. I love trying out new forms of arts and crafts but most recently I have been enjoying crocheting, film photography, and working with clay. I also enjoy spending time outdoors with friends. When I lived in California, I would often go on hikes, but here in New Orleans I have opted more for bike rides through the city. I also love watching live music and trying new restaurants around New Orleans!