Jakob Locante ’19, Capri Bakus ’19, Hannah Kennelley ’19 and Molly Doran ’20 pose with famed environmental documentarian Shi Lihong at the Student Research Conference on Asia and the Environment.
WASHINGTON, PA (May 14, 2019)—Washington and Jefferson College (W&J) students traveled to Vassar College in late April to present their work at the inaugural Student Research Conference on Asia and the Environment.
The conference was sponsored by Vassar’s chapter of the Luce Initiative on Asian Studies and the Environment (LIASE) and featured work from undergraduate and graduate students engaged in research related to Asia and environmental studies.
At W&J, funding from LIASE supports international research opportunities for students and faculty members to take on projects and programs that promote Asian studies within the context of environmental studies. W&J students who have previously traveled through the LIASE program presented the following projects at the conference:
- Hannah Kennelley ’19, “Bioactive Diaporthe strains found in rosy periwinkle”
- Jakob Locante ’19 (with professors Robert East and Jamie March), “Investigating sustainable development practices in the Sino-German Ecopark: The Passive House”
- Molly Doran ’20 and Capri Backus ’19, “The Transition of Resource-Based Cities in China: A Case Study of Dongying.”
The work the students presented has far-reaching implications for the environment, both in Asia and on a global scale. Jakob’s work, which analyzed non-traditional heating and cooling systems, tracked ways to reduce energy use and harmful emissions.
“The Passive House is a model for the future,” he said. “Housing and buildings account for a large portion of global energy use and emissions. Reducing our environmental impact in the housing and building sector is a major step in achieving sustainability.”
During the conference, the students also had the opportunity to meet with many active members of the environmental community, including Chinese environmentalist and documentary film maker Shi Lihong.
The conference and the previous work were valuable experiences for the students involved.
“Both the trip to China and the conference were the exact experiences I hoped to have at W&J,” Jakob said. “The college took great care of me during my time in China while also providing an excellent environment for me to work and research.”
Learn more about LIASE at W&J here.
About Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, located in Washington, Pa., is a selective liberal arts college founded in 1781. Committed to providing each of its students with the highest-quality undergraduate education available, W&J offers a traditional arts and sciences curriculum emphasizing interdisciplinary study and independent study work. For more information about W&J, visit washjeff.dev, or call 888-W-AND-JAY.
