Natural Resources/ Policy Analysis

Hometown: Manhattan, NY  

2000 - 2001 CEIRP Fellow Statement

As a senior Natural Resources major originally from New York City, my primary research interest is in urban ecosystems and especially the importance of urban biodiversity in maintaining natural processes such as hydrology and nutrient cycling. I recently worked at the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation (American Museum of Natural History) on a summary publication about New York State’s biodiversity. In particular, I researched and wrote a chapter on “cultural landscapes” which describes the unique natural heritage of the State’s agricultural and urban landscapes as well as the threats facing them. I continue to study the costs and benefits of applying natural resource information to urban planning and land use decision-making. For my senior honors thesis, I am researching environmental planning in three counties around the George Washington Memorial Parkway.