Academic Portfolio
Where Systems Thinking and Sustainability Intersect.
Hi, my name is Jae! I’m passionate about environmental sustainability, social justice, and creating a more just and caring world. My skills in systems thinking, problem solving, and creativity have taught me to share my ideas in collaborative spaces and identify where good ideas intersect to amplify comprehensive solutions for the world’s most critical problems.
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Statement of Purpose
Sustainability Philosophy
Projects
A Systems Thinking Approach
Sustainability Philosophy
Transformative Eco-Social Justice Philosophy
My philosophy combines elements of sustainability, decolonization, equality, and the interconnectedness of all life. It calls for a radical rethinking of the ways in which human societies engage with the natural world, with each other, and with the systems that structure economic, social, and political life.
Core Principles
1. Interconnectedness of Humans and Nature
Humans are an inseparable part of nature. The illusion of separation is created by colonial, capitalist, and patriarchal systems. Natureculture represents the idea that culture and nature are co-constitutive and that human actions must reflect the understanding that we are inherently interconnected with all living beings and ecosystems. We do not dominate nature; we are part of its ongoing flow and transformation.
3. Economic and Social Decolonization
Seek to divest from exploitative systems, particularly capitalism and the patriarch, that perpetuate inequality, oppression, and environmental destruction. Simultaneously seek to invest in local, regenerative, and cooperative economies. Economic systems must prioritize the well-being of people, ecosystems, and future generations over accumulation of short-term gain. Create economies based on mutual aid, solidarity, and care and transition from a growth-oriented, extractive model to one rooted in sustainability, equity, and reciprocity.
5. Egalitarian and Intersectional Justice
Seek to dismantle all systems of oppression, including patriarchy, racism, ableism, colonialism, and heteronormativity. This includes centering trans, queer, and feminist perspectives, which challenge rigid and harmful gender norms, promote reproductive justice, and ensure that marginalized voices are heard in all aspects of decision-making. Social justice is inherently intersectional, recognizing that struggles against oppression must be fought on multiple fronts - gender, race, class, ability, and sexuality - all of which intersect to form systems of power and domination.
Vision — A Transformative, Integrated World
The core of my philosophy is the belief that justice is relational. It involves healing the land, restoring communities, and reconnecting with the natural world, while simultaneously addressing historical and contemporary injustices in economic, political, and social spheres. My philosophy sees the future not as a linear path, but as a series of cycles of renewal that move us toward a more just, sustainable, and egalitarian world.
2. Relationality and Solidarity
There is a relational nature of existence. All beings, human and non-human, are in a constant state of interaction and interdependence. Social justice is tied to ecological justice, and local struggles for liberation must be seen in global contexts. Solidarity calls for the translation of local struggles into global movements, recognizing that environmental degradation, economic exploitation, gender-based violence, and colonialism are interconnected. The fight for justice is global, and the path to transformation is collective.
4. Ecological and Social Resilience
Nature-based solutions and regenerative practices are central to restoring ecosystems and communities. Seek the restoration of ecological balance through the stewardship of the land by local, Indigenous, and marginalized communities. Ecological restoration aligns with social renewal as communities must heal from historical trauma, reassert sovereignty, and create systems of care that prioritize justice, dignity, and respect for all forms of life.
6. Imagination of Possible Futures
My philosophy is about imaging and creating alternative futures that transcend the limitations imposed by oppressive systems. By reclaiming our imagination, we can break free from the cycles of destruction and exploitation. This includes dreaming of and working toward futures in which human beings live in harmony with each other and the planet, where power is decentralized, and where communities practice mutual aid, care, and justice. Visualize and create a world where equality, ecological restoration, and sustainable living are the norms rather than the exceptions.
My philosophy provides a framework for transformative action across all spheres of life, from economics to culture, governance, and beyond. It is an evolving vision, one that seeks to heal the Earth and its peoples from the wounds of colonialism, patriarchy, and exploitation. At its heart, my philosophy is an invitation to reimagine and rebuild a world based on interconnection, justice, care, and sustainability, where humans live in relationship with the Earth and with one another. It challenges us to divest from systems of harm and to invest in a future that is both radically just and ecologically regenerative.
Integrating sustainability and systems thinking into decision-making involves adopting a holistic approach that considers the long-term impacts of actions on the environment, society, and the economy. It requires an awareness of interconnections between different systems, whether ecological, economic, social, or political, and understanding how decisions in one area can affect others.
Environmental/Social Analyses
Exploiting Informal Labor: Developing A Just Transition for Plastic Pollution in the Global South
This text uses an interdisciplinary analysis to critique exploitative systems and reimagine a just, sustainable future led by empowered waste pickers in Eco-Sovereign Villages.
Deconstructing ‘Nature’ Deconstructing ‘Environment’: What Do We Learn About Nature?
This text explores the concept of natureculture, emphasizing the deep interconnection between humans and the natural world while challenging traditional views of nature, gender, sexuality, and ability.
Queer and Trans Methodologies and Doing Science: How Science is Influenced by Gender and Sex
This text explores how queer, trans, and Indigenous perspectives reimagine science and environmental relationships, particularly through rivers as spaces of fluid identity and resistance.
Possible Futures
This text critiques capitalism and patriarchy as dominating systems that suppress alternative ways of relating to the world, calling instead for a future rooted in interconnectedness, care, and relationality.
From Colonial Expansion to Collective Sovereignty
This text critiques the global food system shaped by capitalism, colonialism, and globalization, highlighting how land grabbing by wealthy nations undermines biodiversity, food sovereignty, and the rights of Indigenous and small-scale farmers.
Sustainable and Community-based Construction Project in Costa Rica
This interdisciplinary education abroad program focused on conducting a needs assessment for the Mollejones community in Costa Rica. Working in partnership with the community, we constructed a waste management structure using the sustainable Bahareque technique in conjunction with other endogenous materials.
Photo Summary of Trip
SustainableDesignAndConstructionSummary
Final Group Project
Presentational Analyses
Agricultural Runoff Management Proposal
This project proposes a comprehensive water quality monitoring and education program for Northern Colorado farms using a low-cost, automated water samplers developed by Colorado State University.
Report
ApplicationsOfEnvironmentalSustainabilityReport
Presentation
From the River to the C’s: Colonial and Capitalist Framings of Nature
This text critiques how capitalism and colonialism have shaped destructive relationships between humans and nature, producing systems of exploitation, toxic contamination, and inequity.
Unsustainable Industrialization in Brazil Broad Model
This text explores the environmental, economic, and political consequences of unsustainable industrialization in Brazil, particularly in the Amazon region. It argues that industrial growth, driven by capitalism and urbanization, has led to environmental degradation, loss of biocapacity, and harm to Indigenous communities.
Sustainable Enterprise Impact Analysis
This is a strategic analysis of Levi Strauss & Co., a long-established leader in durable denim products. It focuses on sustainability, social responsibility, an embrace of eco-friendly practices, and responsible sourcing to meet growing consumer demand.
Report
SocialAndSustainableVenturingReport
Presentation
Experiential Analyses
Sustainable Behavior Change Project
This project focuses on the psychological experiment of changing behaviors and includes choosing a behavior, setting goals, taking measurements, assessing barriers, and analyzing results.
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Part 2
Part 3
Steady Now: An Intentionally Radical Transformation of Justice
This text critiques how capitalist and colonial systems have created environmental, social, and economic harms, and calls for radical reimagination and collective action to build a just and equitable future.
Co-management and Diversification for Mangrove Forest Conservation in Bangladesh
This text examines how co-management and economic diversification impact conservation efforts in the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest of Bangladesh.
Natural Disasters and Climate Change Website
This website provides an overview of various global ‘natural’ disasters, focusing on wildfires and droughts.
Volunteer Restoration Project
As a collaborative and interdisciplinary group of students, we worked to remove barbed wire fencing and replaced it with wildlife friendly fencing to protect a riparian ecosystem from ranging livestock in Livermore, Colorado.
Instruction Manual for Project
StrategicWritingAndCommunicationManual
Photos
A Systems Thinking Approach
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Using A Systems Thinking Approach To Solve A Problem
A systems approach involves analyzing the problem as part of a larger, interconnected system rather than addressing isolated issues. It focuses on understanding how various components of the system interact and how changes in one area can lead to broader impacts. Here’s how this approach could be applied to food waste in urban areas:
1. Identify the Key Stakeholders and System Components
● Consumers (households, restaurants, grocery stores)
● Food supply chain actors (farmers, distributors, food processors)
● Waste management systems (landfills, recycling centers, composting facilities)
● Government and policy makers (regulations and incentives)
● Environmental impacts (greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, land use)
● Social aspects (food insecurity, food redistribution)
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2. Map Out the Flow of Food Waste
● Production and Harvesting
● Distribution
● Retail
● Consumption
● Disposal
3. Identify Leverage Points
● Consumer behavior: meal plan better, understand food labels, reduce waste
● Retail/Food Service Practices: modify ordering and display systems, strategize food donations/redistribution
● Food Recovery/Redistribution: collect surplus food from supermarkets and restaurants and redistribute to food banks or directly to those in need
● Technology Integration: use smart sensors or apps to monitor food waste, track expiration dates, use recipes based on available ingredients
● Public Policy: encourage composting, improve waste management infrastructure, guidelines for food labeling to avoid confusion about expiration dates
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4. Interventions and Strategies
● Consumer Education and Awareness: launch public awareness campaigns to educate consumers about portion sizes, proper food storage, and how to compost food scraps
● Reducing Food Waste at Retail and Restaurants: implement dynamic pricing to sell almost expired food at discounted prices and encourage partnerships with local charities for surplus food donations
● Food Recovery Systems: create more efficient systems for redistributing food and use digital platforms to connect surplus food with charities
● Policy and Infrastructure Support: Enforce regulations that require businesses to donate surplus food and provide incentives for implementing food-saving measures or reduced environmental impact
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5. Evaluate and Iterate
After implementing these interventions, monitoring and feedback loops should be evaluated over time to understand which strategies are most effective in reducing food waste. New leverage points could emerge, or the system could adapt in unexpected ways.
This approach avoids focusing on just one part of the problem and instead looks at how different elements of the food system are interrelated. By targeting multiple areas, food waste can be reduced more effectively and sustainably. By using a systems approach, the problem of food waste is tackled comprehensively, considering the interactions between stakeholders, the flow of food, and the environmental impacts. Solutions are not isolated but instead interconnected, creating a more sustainable and resilient food system.