This year we were delighted to award three students places on The Green Program, helping the scheme on their aim to promote sustainable development and social good within the engineering community. The program provides students who have shown their dedication to sustainable design with the opportunity to undertake work placements abroad to work on projects that will both contribute to their goals and offer invaluable work experience.
One of the students we were able to support, 19-year-old International Studies student Tymber Felts, undertook the Renewable and Sustainable Energy program in Reykjavik, Iceland. The placement focused on how one of the greenest countries on the planet puts renewable energy practices in place, and gave Tymber the experience of working outside of the US.
Iceland produces 100% of its electricity from renewable sources, so is an excellent place to learn more about sustainable futures and how other countries can follow more closely in its footsteps. The eight day placement provides students with exclusive access to the nation’s leading renewable energy facility, allowing participants to gain hands on experience in the field, as well as the chance to immerse themselves in the unique Icelandic culture and landscapes.
Tymber during her trip to Iceland
Following her placement, Tymber said: “I am confident that I can sound informed when talking about renewable energy now, as I experienced it first-hand. This is very important to my degree and my career prospects, as I am now confident that I know what I’m talking about if I ever want to gain support for sustainability and protecting the environment. Being funded by The Happold Foundation means that others believe in my ability to help create a more innovative and sustainable world, and this is astounding. I am incredibly honoured that the scholarship board believes in my abilities.”
Read more about Tymber’s placement in Iceland.
Our second scholar was Ramon Crespo, an Electrical Engineering student at California Polytechnic State University. Ramon joined the Green Program on their Disaster Mitigation and Nuclear to Renewable Transitions placement in Fukushima, Japan, to study the past, present and future practices following the 2011 earthquake in the region. The impact of the 9.0 magnitude earthquake was disastrous, with the following tsunami sending 10m high waves crashing onto the shoreline. As a result, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant had three nuclear meltdowns, leading to the release of nuclear material that displaced 160,000 people.
Ramon during his trip to Japan
Now, the province of Fukushima is committed to sourcing 100% renewable energy by 2040, using methods such as solar and off-shore wind farms. Ramon’s eight day program saw him explore how the region will take on the challenge of a renewable energy future, and how other regions in the country might follow.
After returning from his inspirational trip to Japan, Ramon commented, “the Green Program has inspired me to work sustainable thinking into every decision I’ll make in my career. TGP has reminded me that every decision you make can have an environmental impact, so it’s important to start thinking with this in mind holistically – personally, professionally, educationally. Happold Foundation, together with TGP, has helped me become a better person, a more forward-thinking person, and I will carry that torch forward.”
Read Ramon’s interview about his experience
Camille McCall undertook her Green Program placement in May 2018, travelling to Cursco, Peru. A PhD student in environmental engineering at Michigan State University, The Water Resource Management and Sustainable Practices scheme perfectly aligned with Camille’s research.
The program looks at water recourse management, and how sustainable agriculture and environmental technologies can be integrated in urban and rural locations. The scheme in Peru focuses on community and engagement, with students participating in developing sustainable practices with a local school. Steeped in culture, the hills of the Incas also offers an enriching cultural and historical experience for Green Program participants.
Camille during her trip to Peru
When she had completed her program, Camille told TGP: “I learned so much about myself during my TGP trip. I completed several things on my bucket list in just ten days! Not to mention that we completed a capstone project despite having very full days. I’ve walked away from this experience having expanded my network and experienced a new culture while learning about their water and sustainability practices. The Happold Foundation made this trip possible for me. I will forever be grateful and inspired to pay it forward in any way that I can. TGP trips are once in a lifetime experiences.”
Read more about Camille’s trip to Peru.
To find out more about the Green Program and how to apply, visit www.thegreenprogram.com.