Yale Young Global Scholars

The Value of Disersity and Inclusivity in Solving Global Challenges

Capstone Project: From Thames to Tides - a Global Mission Against Microplastics

In YYGS, to continue pursuing my passion, I sought opportunities to gain a deeper insight on the pollution problem, to exchange my ideas with others who share the same values, and to collaborate with them in formulating a solution that is both economical and environmental. Since the creation of the Killer Plastics Project, I collaborated with four other youth environmental leaders to create the From Thames to Tides project to propose a solution to the micro plastic pollution issue in the Thames River. 

Removing Microplastic from the Thames River and English Channel

YYGS Speaker Series

Aware of YYGS's diverse and inclusive environment, I was determined to share my message of recycle, reuse, and repurpose with other YYGS participants. I hoped to encourage action among future government and corporate leaders around the world to create synergy in mitigating the pollution issue. 

To gain a deeper insight into the pollution problem in the US, I consulted a seminar instructor who specialized in waste management and environmental studies. We reached an agreement that that the pollution problem can only be solved by the collective force of the community. We need complete cooperation from governments and businesses. To accomplish my goal, I participated in the YYGS Speaker Series to spread my message of recycle, reuse, and repurpose. 

The YYGS Speaker Series provided me with the opportunity to present my message, along with the Killer Plastics Project, to approximately 240 YYGS participants. Being my first time speaking to over 200 individuals, I was both nervous and excited. I memorized my script but still contained some stumbles during the speech; however, I managed to finish the speech with pride for my first speech and gratitude towards the audience. After my presentation, another presenter, who was from Sudan, approached me and invited me to be the co-founder of her youth organization aimed to educate youth about global challenges and inspire action to achieve Goals 7, 11, 14, and 15 from the SDG. By presenting on the YYGS Speaker Series, I was able to convey my message of recycle, reuse, and repurpose to other youth who share the same values, enabling me to connect and collaborate with others across the globe. 

My speech at YYGS

Seminar One: Wait a Second...Where Does the Garbage Truck Actually Go?

In this lecture, I immersed myself in knowledge about waste management, landfill construction, and current methods of recycling and reusing.  I learnt that the immediate problems concerned with the waste management system include (1) the depletion of land that can be turned into a landfill, (2) the probability of leachate pollution in water sources, and (3) the release of methane caused by bacterial decomposition in the landfills. In the future, I hope to integrate these knowledge into my circular business model to account for the waste that are biproductions of production.


What I learnt: 

Seminar Two: "Who is the World Built For?": Recognizing Power Embedded in the Build Environment

In this lecture, I was introduced to the rudimentary aspects of urban planning, such as the difference between social construction and social production. I learnt how (1) certain social landscapes can exclude certain members of the society (eg. disabled individuals) from usage and (2) spaces are both socially constructed and produced. In the future, I hope to use these knowledge to create a work environement where all of my co-workers feel welcomed and accessible. 


What I learnt: 

Seminar Three: Tapping into Crisis: Water Scarcity, Excess, and Management in the Modern Urban World

In this lecture, I became aware of how water is processed, transported, and allocated. The urgent issues concerned with the water scarcity or transportation include (1) approximately 80% of the water resources go to agriculture in the US, (2) inefficiency in the transportation system results in leaks, and (3) rising sea levels result in a loss in a loss of fresh water resources. 


What I learnt: