UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The environmental resource management major offered by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences helps to prepare students for impactful careers centered on environmental protection and sustainability. Demonstrating a commitment to addressing climate challenges, fourth-year student Katherine Chu has embraced the opportunities that the program provides to contribute to innovative solutions.
Chu, of Upper Darby, is a Schreyer Honors College scholar and a Gamma Sigma Delta Honors Society member. She also is pursuing minors in environmental soil science, environmental engineering and geographic information science.
To gain hands-on experience in undergraduate research, Chu applied for and was accepted into the Drawdown Scholars Research Experiences for Undergraduates program.
“The focus of the program is to connect students with faculty who conduct research related to climate change solutions,” Chu said. “In addition to working in labs, students build their skills in science communication and attend presentations to learn more about topics such as wildfires and environmental justice.”
She is working on her research with David Hughes, Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Chair in Global Food Security and leader of PlantVillage, which is a research and development initiative of Penn State that empowers smallholder farmers and seeks to lift them out of poverty using affordable technology and access to knowledge that can help them grow more food.
Most of Chu’s research with PlantVillage is centered around smallholder farms and carbon sequestration, which is the capture, removal and storage of carbon dioxide from the Earth’s atmosphere to ease the effects of global warming.
“Working with Dr. Hughes has been fantastic,” Chu said. “This research has pushed me to become more self-sufficient and challenged me to explore new, uncharted territories.”
Hughes noted that mentoring Chu has been a pleasure. “It’s clear she’s dedicated and very smart,” he said. “She has all the hallmarks of a scholar, and I look forward to working with her for many years to come.”
Chu also has worked with individuals committed to aiding farmers in countries most at risk from climate change. “The PlantVillage team is very welcoming, and even if you’re a student, they make it clear that what you say matters,” she said.
Currently, Chu is working on her honors thesis with Hughes, focusing on quantifying the carbon-sinking potential of agricultural practices for farms in Kenya.
Another experience Chu embraced during her college career was studying abroad, an experience she never expected to have. “It always seemed out of reach for me, especially as a first-generation student,” she said.
The course Chu participated in, “ERM 499: Costa Rica Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources,” is supported by the environmental resource management program and the college’s offices of International Programs, Multicultural Affairs and Undergraduate Education. It was designed with first-generation students in mind.
“It gave me the support to navigate the study-abroad process,” Chu said. “My trip was funded through generous donations to the college and the student engagement network. Without that help, I wouldn’t have made the trip.”
Chu said traveling to Costa Rica was a fantastic experience, especially since she has lived in the United States her entire life.
“The trip allowed me to experience Costa Rica’s biodiversity firsthand, not to mention its beautiful beaches, volcanoes and rain forests,” she said. “The most valuable part of the journey was meeting the different people in Costa Rica.”
The trip showed students more about Costa Rica’s dedicated approach to being one of the most sustainable countries in the world. The environment was at the forefront of the trip, and Chu gained a greater appreciation of the stewards of these areas.
“Everyone we met was passionate about the environment and the community,” she said. “We worked with dedicated volunteers from Verdiazul and also stayed at La Anita, a cacao farm that serves the community by providing jobs and educating visitors.”
Back on campus, Chu has been part of EcoReps for almost two years. EcoReps is a student-run organization that focuses on educating students about sustainability.
Through EcoReps, Chu was introduced to the Sustainable Lab Ambassadors program, which pairs undergraduate students with labs interested in reducing their environmental impact while still maintaining operations.
“I’ve helped collect baseline data such as energy usage, water usage and waste output,” Chu said. “We hope to take that data and develop a plan to lower the lab’s environmental footprint. It’s been an eye-opening experience to learn how much impact research labs can have on the environment.”
Reflecting on her experiences in the environmental resource management major and as a first-generation college student, Chu said, “There are plenty of resources from Penn State that can help fill in the knowledge gaps for college. If you don’t know where to start, talk to your adviser. College is a perfect time to step out of your comfort zone and explore what you enjoy.”