Olivia Colton was at all times within the pure sciences. However earlier than beginning the Grasp of Science in Sustainability Science (SUSCI) program, she was an active-duty officer within the U.S. Military stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany, and Monterey, California, the place she served as a platoon chief and govt officer.
Paging by way of a army journal in a ready room someday, Colton got here throughout an article referencing low veteran enrollment at Ivy League universities—a element that stayed at the back of her thoughts. A couple of months later, when she was finishing her army service and on the lookout for sustainability grasp’s packages, Colton felt encoragued to use to Columbia’s SUSCI program.
Carrying her management expertise into her new setting, Colton has been concerned with pupil life within the Educational Affairs Workplace for the Sustainability Graduate Packages, the Sustainability Science program as an Earth Institute Fellow, and as a Faculty of Skilled Research pupil authorities consultant at Columbia. Final summer season, she additionally labored on the Tree Ring Lab on the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, the place she helped catalog practically 2,000 cross-section tree samples from discipline research throughout the globe.
After graduating, Colton plans to pursue a analysis profession in environmental conservation. Within the Q&A under, she displays on the SUSCI program’s interdisciplinary coursework, and the way her time within the army and at Columbia has ready her to work on a spread of sustainability initiatives.
Your undergraduate diploma is in conservation biology. What first sparked your curiosity in pure sciences?
I assume I’ve by no means given it that a lot thought; it’s simply at all times been a part of who I’m. For so long as I can keep in mind, birthdays have been spent on the zoo, and household holidays concerned a whole lot of climbing. I feel it most likely comes from the sensation of marvel I expertise once I’m in nature! Our world doesn’t have magic or something like that, however nature usually feels just like the closest factor to it.
What did your analysis on the Tree Ring Lab give attention to? What have been some challenges you skilled?
Final summer season, I analyzed discipline samples from throughout the globe, all destined for meticulous cataloging and group. There are millions of unsorted samples within the Tree Ring Lab from six continents, so most days within the lab have been consumed by intricate comparisons and cross-referencing to make sure that every pattern was precisely labeled and sorted.
The work additionally included sorting the metadata for every of these samples through System for Earth Pattern Registration and utilizing that to allocate every one to a novel identifier often known as an Worldwide Generic Pattern Quantity.
As for challenges, on my final day within the lab, we opened up a field of untranslated samples collected in Egypt within the Nineteen Eighties. We had sorted greater than a thousand samples by this level, and this was the primary group of untranslated samples that we got here throughout. As luck would have it, my seven semesters of Arabic from my undergraduate days proved to be a lifesaver. Sadly, I haven’t used it a lot within the final 5 years, and Egyptian Arabic is notoriously distinctive, so it took me a number of hours to translate and decipher. It actually added an exhilarating finale to my summer season within the lab.
May you elaborate in your expertise of becoming a member of the Military after your undergraduate diploma, and what compelled you to proceed your schooling after leaving the Military?
I used to be a member of the Military Reserve Officers’ Coaching Corps throughout my undergraduate research. They gave me a full-ride scholarship, after which after commencement, I owed them [at least] 4 years of service. I began energetic obligation a couple of week after commencement from Louisiana State College and truly accomplished it throughout my first semester right here!
I knew I ultimately needed to pursue a grasp’s diploma, however I had not less than 4 years of service earlier than I’d attain that time. As I used to be making ready to finish my time in service, I knew that if I didn’t return to high school proper then, there was a a lot decrease likelihood that I ever would. Leaving the army was an enormous transition, and bundling it with an enormous transfer, however beginning faculty felt extra manageable, one way or the other.
How did you discover out concerning the SUSCI program, and what impressed you to use?
I’ve a definite reminiscence of choosing up a army journal in a ready room and studying an article a couple of veteran who went to Yale. The article talked about the low veteran enrollment at Ivy League universities (though Columbia has greater than the opposite Ivy Leagues mixed). I discovered it fascinating however didn’t assume it might ever actually apply to me.
Quick-forward a couple of months; I got here throughout Columbia once I was googling colleges with grasp’s packages in sustainability. I saved a handwritten listing of colleges I used to be excited by and their places. I nonetheless have that pocket book someplace, and I’m fairly certain I’ve Columbia circled with “LOL” as a result of I assumed there was no likelihood I’d get in… however right here I’m!
You’re very concerned with pupil life. What positions do you maintain, and what have you ever realized from the expertise?
I’m presently the Sustainability Science consultant for pupil authorities and serve on our social committee. I’m additionally a member of Columbia MilVets. My largest takeaway from it’s the significance of being concerned. These occasions are taking place as a result of individuals wish to see YOU there!
As an intern for the Educational Affairs Workplace, what does it imply so that you can interact with potential candidates to the SUSCI program?
It’s a whole lot of enjoyable! Nowadays, I’ve courses with college students who I reached out to and answered questions for as they utilized, after which despatched packages to them after they have been accepted. It’s enjoyable to see their full development! I really feel like I contributed to their journey, even just a bit.
Having so many distinctive positions at Columbia concurrently is just not a straightforward feat. How do you steadiness your time?
That could be a nice query, and sadly, I’m undecided I actually have a solution. Having prior demanding job experiences undoubtedly helps. I assume this goes together with my ardour for the pure world, however I simply discover little or no pleasure in sitting at house. Whereas not precisely an environmental haven, that’s a part of the explanation I like NYC a lot—there’s at all times one thing to do!
Do you have got any recommendation you’d wish to share with present or potential college students?
My foremost piece of recommendation can be to become involved! If you happen to’re not concerned on campus, there may be nonetheless so a lot you are able to do in our metropolis! If you happen to’re going to make this a lot of an funding for tuition and lease, you might want to get probably the most out of it.
My second can be to ensure you take courses you’re excited by and discover choices outdoors of our division. I want I had shopped round a little bit extra throughout my first semester!
The Grasp of Science in Sustainability Science program, provided by the Faculty of Skilled Research in partnership with the Local weather Faculty, is designed for present and aspiring leaders who want to assist organizations perceive the technical elements of sustainability, together with predicting and addressing environmental impacts.
No Comments
Leave a comment Cancel