Though another of many heart-wrenching decisions, the ability to turn out such an audible, rapid response was once again an affirmation of an increasingly activated public. The subsequent days of remarkable commitments from sub-national and non-state actors allowed the discontent to be solidified into progressive action. The impressive dedication we've been seeing from bottom-up movements has given me the strength to continue navigating through an often turbulent and fragile political landscape, and I hope to continue engaging thoughtfully with this ever-inspiring work.

I attended the 11th Baku Summer Energy School in Azerbaijan, taking a deep dive into the geopolitics, economics, and logistics of the oil and gas industry. I was surprised to find a variety of viewpoints presented by energy scholars and practitioners from all over the world. Though the future of the planet has to be in decarbonization and renewable energy, fossil fuels are locked in for decades—as an environmentalist, I need to be knowledgeable about this global industry, and I definitely feel more prepared after this program!

The three of us took part in Professor Scott Freeman’s practicum on the public health and environmental impacts of pineapple monocropping in Costa Rica. As we got deeper into the interview process, community members and leaders expressed that one of the best ways for us to make a real impact with our research was to get the word out. Nine months and many editing rounds later, we published our original research in Princeton’s Journal of Public and International Affairs. We hope it serves as a useful and educational resource for academics and consumers alike.