In response to sustainability becoming increasingly urgent, students like Kaylen Chung are taking charge. She is part of the first cohort of Georgetown’s MS in Environment and Sustainability Management program. Kaylen discusses her educational journey, the surprising depletion of sand as a resource, and the importance of remaining hopeful in the face of climate change.
As the effects of climate change become increasingly evident, businesses are stepping up to find sustainable solutions for the future. Natural resources, like water, arable land, and sand, are in crisis thanks to our modern lifestyles.
Modern problems require modern solutions, something that Kaylen became aware of in her PR and marketing career. “Throughout my career, I noticed that a lot of brands are starting to align their brand values and services with social impact strategies … and I wanted to know how the changes can actually be done.” (00:45)
Environmental and sustainability experts are in demand across sectors. As businesses adopt sustainability measures, they want to communicate those changes to the public.
Kaylen recognized that she had a gap in her expertise. Unable to fully understand the science, it was difficult to provide substance in her marketing campaigns. Her new objective was to engage her passion for sustainability and merge it with business to invoke change. (00:29)
That’s why the Georgetown Master of Science in Environment and Sustainability Management (MS-ESM) was an obvious fit. The program targets both the core scientific theory and how to implement it with business best practices.
As we’ll see, Georgetown’s interdisciplinary approach focuses on teaching the complexities of sustainability challenges and developing innovative solutions.
The interdisciplinary curriculum at Georgetown exposed Kaylen to the complexities of sustainability challenges.
From a scientific perspective, Kaylen highlights the course Climate Impact and Measurements, taught by Professor Jesse Meiller. Throughout the class students learn to grasp the significance of concepts such as the 1.5-degree threshold and global mitigation strategies. The learnings were a foundation on which Kaylen applied business concepts later in the course.
In contrast, the Business of Sustainable Energy and Technology course, led by Professor Safak Yucel, shifts focus to corporate innovation in sustainability. Through case studies, students evaluate pioneering companies and the hurdles they face. As an example, Kaylen points to Carbfix, which aims to capture CO2 and store it in rocks. (05:38)
From inter-governmental agreements to grains of sand, the MS in Environment and Sustainability Management degree covers a vast array of experiences. The program goes beyond the surface to shed light on issues with significant implications for society and the planet.
One project required students to delve into resource usage, and Kaylen focused on sand. Though often overlooked due to perceived abundance, sand extraction for construction and industry has critical environmental ramifications, including habitat destruction.
“Sand is actually one of the fastest-depleting resources on the planet,” Kaylen points out, because only sand of the right size and quality can be used. In fact, thanks to the growing demand for sand, we are experiencing a global sand crisis that requires the urgent adoption of sustainable sand management practices. (03:55)
Part of the value of studying an issue deeply is the connections it allows us to make. For example, sand sparked Kaylen’s interest in working with green buildings and sustainable real estate.
“When we dug more into it, it’s like: ‘OK, this is a very big issue that impacts the communities around it, it impacts everybody’s livelihood and obviously has a lot of environmental impact.’ It was a glance into all the different aspects of sustainability management that I could make a change in,” Kaylen explains. (05:11)
With the in-depth knowledge given by the MS-ESM, graduates like Kaylen are better prepared to advocate for change.
The daunting nature of sustainability crises can be overwhelming. However, Kaylen developed a pragmatic and hopeful outlook through the MS-ESM program.
“I can remain hopeful because the science is there,” Kaylen says, “And we learned through class that we have the strategies to make a bigger change.” (12:38)
Kaylen sees the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 as a positive sign that we’re moving in the right direction. The most significant climate action Congress has taken encompasses clean energy technology, manufacturing, and innovation. Kaylen worked on a project for offshore wind farms and expects to see wind farms popping up along the east coast of the US shortly.
Kaylen sees the issue of solving climate change as “ a matter of getting the right investment at the right time and convincing more people to believe in the changes that are necessary to slow down climate change.” (14:07)
The MS-ESM program has laid the groundwork for Kaylen’s future pursuits. With her newfound knowledge and skills, she envisages herself working across industries and helping to shape ESG strategies. Kaylen’s studies into sand also piqued her interest for real estate and sustainable development. Either is possible now that she has sustainability business acumen and an understanding of the science.
Either way, Kaylen’s goal remains the same: making a difference and contributing to a more sustainable future.
Contact Kaylen and other students directly on the MASTERGRADSCHOOLS Ambassador page to learn more about Georgetown University McDonough School of Business.
