From The ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES DESK

 

My name is Liliana Kijek, and I was born and raised in a town in Northeast Ohio known as Brunswick. I graduated from Cleveland State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, where I delved into social and political discourse while cultivating a broad understanding of deep-rooted societal structures and methods of persuading the government to adapt to collective needs. I became equipped with an understanding of the relevance of politics and democracy, differing viewpoints, and how to hold meaningful conversations about controversial, yet critical topics like climate change.

 

From a young age, I’ve held a strong connection to the environment and its conservation, which pushed me to devote my future career to a path that allows me to make a real difference in the world and assist in solving some of the most pressing climate challenges our planet is currently facing. I grew up on Lake Erie, spending countless hours floating in the water and basking in the sun. I began working at a boating marina in Vermilion Ohio, where I learned first-hand some of the extensive environmental problems the lake and its ecosystems are facing, such as eutrophication from agriculture runoff, invasive species growth, microplastic contamination, and many others. After being exposed to these stressors, I began focusing my attention on the widespread and increasingly dangerous issue of plastic pollution and microplastic contamination in our ecosystems.

 

After graduating from Cleveland State University, I decided to apply for an internship that would give me experience in the environmental field, specifically in water quality and conservation. I applied for an internship as a water ecology field assistant with the Greater Cleveland Aquarium because I had always loved the aquarium and was lucky enough to secure the position. During my time there, I conducted an empirical study on water quality levels and the nitrogen cycle with a variety of bio-media samples for enhanced aquatic conditions in large aquarium exhibits. I was also exposed to a wide variety of specialized laboratory tools and methods for testing water quality and learned about how the aquarium utilized its exhibits as a way to simultaneously raise awareness about water pollution and foster local conservation initiatives at the same time.

 

On a whim, I applied for the Master of Science in Environmental Studies program at Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service. I was given the opportunity to study as a research assistant for the program, where I have been exposed to a variety of different hands-on work in the environmental field while also learning how to build a future where the well-being of humanity and the health of the environment can be balanced in a sustainable and productive harmony. During my time at the University so far, I assisted in projects regarding water quality testing for restored wetlands, lead contamination in ground and surface waters within the city of Athens, injection well suspension reports with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Oil and Gas, nutrient pollution discharge limits for the Ohio River and Lake Erie Basin to cultivate a new statewide Nutrient Pollution Reduction Strategy, and my most recent project involving drone surveying for Ohio University affiliated restoration projects in Pennsylvania. Coming from a political science degree, I had little to no experience with real-life environmental work, but in just one semester with the program, I gained extensive knowledge of what it takes to work in this field.

 

I chose this program for a wide variety of reasons, but mainly the interdisciplinary nature of the program and its learning-by-doing approach. My deep-rooted passion for the environment lies in crafting a future that not only fosters sustainable growth for society but also balances the health of the environment. Through the adoption of renewable energy, reduced consumption practices, the cutting out of single-use plastics and associated waste, policy regulation, and the adoption of climate-smart legislation combined with scientific knowledge and research, the capacity to reach this goal is closer than ever. I am actively looking for new ways to empower meaningful action through a variety of paths, including, policy advancement, public education and outreach, citizen-led initiatives, and many others as well.

 

An environmental studies degree holds significant importance in our current society for a variety of reasons, but mainly because it allows us to become equipped with the knowledge, skills, and perspectives needed to successfully address current and future climate challenges, provide learning opportunities for sustainable growth and development, and craft an overall more equitable and resilient world. As we continue to navigate the complexities of our increasingly unstable climate, environmental studies programs foster an interdisciplinary understanding of environmental changes along with the associated effects of these changes around the world and equip us with the proper skills needed to build a future of longevity and well-being for both humanity and the natural world.