Research

In my opinion, research is a call for creativity. It is an opportunity to wade into uncharted territory and unearth narratives previously unknown and impact not seen. My work reflect my passion for evaluating policy and program effects.

1. A Case Study of Corporate Social Responsibility impact on sustainable development at the Bisha mine in Eritrea.

My research dives into social and environmental impact from CSR programs and mining activity in a small East African country.  It is a culmination of two years of work, two site visits, and numerous interviews of government officials, corporate executives, employees, and local community members.

Abstract
As new multilateral agreements emerge to align country level commitments to the 2030 development agenda, there must be an equally aggressive effort for projects evaluating local impact and success. In addition to solidifying context-specific frameworks, successfully engaging the private sector to align activities with sustainable development goals will be critical. This work investigates the power of the private sector through strengthening the practice of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and its potential contribution to sustainable development in developing countries pursuing extractive industries. The case study of the Canadian owned Bisha Mining Share Company and its CSR programs will be presented and examined for impact in the areas of land rehabilitation and rural women’s livelihoods. Through an exploration of governance dynamics and program implementation at the first modern mine in Eritrea, I attempt to give insight into whether and how a historically exploitative and inherently ecologically destructive industry can co-exist with sustainable development goals.

Document Download: Thesis – Final
Thesis Advisor: Professor of Environment and Forest Sciences and Anthropology Stevan Harrell, stevehar@uw.edu, 206-543-9608,

2. Policy Implementation in Washington State

Formulated a comparative policy paper of institutional responses to Washington House Bill 2287, a mandate for paper reduction, upon interviewing 15 state agencies. This work was completed through an internship with UW Sustainability and recommendations were presented to the UW Committee for Paper Reduction.

Document Download: Paper Reduction Recommendations
Advisor: Director of UW Sustainability, Claudia Frere-Anderson, frerec@uw.edu, (206) 221-0391

3. International Environmental Law Research in Valdeon, Spain.

Investigated stakeholder concerns and conflict through a deep dive into land management in Spain’s first national park, the Picos de Europa.  The paper developed examined historical drivers to environmental legislation and suggested recommendations for the creation of a comprehensive Plan de Recursos y Uso for the park.

This research is a result of interviews with legislators, scientists, and members of the communities in Valdeon (a valley within the park).

Sample Download: Picos de Europa
Advisor: Professor of Law, Gregory A. Hicks, gahicks@uw.edu, (206) 543-4034

4. Defining the Northern American “Youth Voice”

An independent research project with the aim of improving youth representation in international environmental policy processes by assessing youth attitudes and opinions. I presented an overview of global environment and forest policy to a group of 30 college students and conducted focus groups.

This information informed a baseline assessment of the region’s opinions and this workshop is to be replicated in other regions.

Abstract
Inclusive representation is integral to policy creation and arguably a widely accepted practice today. In the sphere of international environmental legislation, the importance of this practice is heightened, in particular, with respect to the younger generation. Environmental policy, and more recently, climate policy, centers around the ultimate aim of ensuring a suitable planet for future generations. It is imperative that institutions integrate youth today in the decision-making and policy creation of defining tomorrow. The International Forestry Student’s Association (IFSA) is an organization that unites forestry students globally and seeks to present this voice through coordinated participation in international policy processes. There is great difficulty in assessing and capturing the elusive youth voice. This work, through evaluations made at the IFSA Canadian American Regional Meeting, hopes to provide a greater understanding of the views and beliefs of North American students studying forestry and environmental science. These students have a strong desire to progress into a broader, more inclusive understanding of the natural world and are faced with very limited understanding of environmental policy processes that could lead to this end. It is the aim of this project that a process for yearly baseline assessment of these attitudes is made possible and that this pilot leads way for replication across the globe, ultimately contributing to a more informed youth and a strong youth voice.

Sample Download: Defining the Northern American “Youth Voice”
Advisor: Associate Director of the Center for International Trade in Forest Products (CINTRAFOR), Indroneil Ganguly, indro@uw.edu, (206) 685-8311