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“The Green Program helped me discover my Why: to promote responsible stewardship, learn through curiosity, and be mindful of our resources to create more sustainable communities.” -Irena Potochny, Materials Science and Engineering student
This Spring, The GREEN Program (TGP) hosted a group of Earth and Mineral Sciences students from Pennsylvania State University in Belize. The program focused on ocean systems-thinking and stakeholder engagement in local, place-based approaches to climate action, enabling students to build on the knowledge they had gained in their semester-long course at PSU. TGP’s Belize curriculum is designed to address Sustainable Development Goals #13: Climate Action, #14: Life on Land, and #15: Life Below Water.
Karen Marosi, Director of Student Engagement at Pennsylvania State University, mentioned how beneficial and memorable this experience has been for her students. She notes:
“The GREEN Program blends expert pedagogy and a keen understanding of how to connect with students to create an extraordinary learning experience. Students return transformed as sustainability scholars with a deeper understanding of their own potential.”
Some of the skills the program aims to develop are intercultural competence and an understanding of the important role oceans play in creating a sustainable future. For the capstone project, students worked together to address a real-world sustainability issue, designing an innovative solution that incorporated their learnings from the week. They also participated in a citizen science project in which they identified marine life and evaluated the impacts of local seaweed farming initiatives, including how a women-led, community-based organization strives to support the livelihoods of local women. Finally, students created infographics of their experience to highlight the skills they gained, the challenges they experienced, and the personal impact they witnessed while on the program.
Irena Potochny, a Materials Science and Engineering student, reflected on her experience and how it helped solidify her path forward in her personal and academic future. She said:
“Stepping out of my comfort zone allowed me to make deep connections within our group and the local Belizean community. We learned from each other’s diverse backgrounds, while bonding over shared experiences and a mutual commitment to sustainability. This journey deepened my appreciation for individual action and collective efforts in creating change.”
Upon return from the program, Irena was awarded the Student Engagement Network Grant through Penn State to host a sustainable fashion show, Conscious Couture, where she leveraged her capstone project on the Belize program as a deliverable outcome for a community event to combat the effects of climate change. In her Sustainability Leadership minor, Irena utilizes kombucha fermentation to grow a byproduct material called scoby, which dries out to become a biodegradable leather. She has also been upcycling and thrifting clothing for the show and using old textiles like curtains or blankets that would otherwise be thrown out.
Irena further explained, “I am excited to showcase my works soon as a community event where I will announce each piece and provide a story behind how it was made before each model walks the runway. My goal is to encourage my audience to make conscious decisions about their consumption habits and understand how they too can make a difference.”
Irena’s event, Conscious Couture, will take place at Penn State on July 24th, 2024.
The GREEN Program is honored to have hosted Penn State University students in Belize this past Spring. As they join the ranks of other TGP alums they will receive career-related resources and opportunities focused on careers in sustainability through The GREEN Program’s alumni network.
To see examples of past capstone projects, please visit our website.