After completing my undergraduate studies and obtaining a BS degree from Nanjing University, China in 2008, I came to the U.S. to pursue graduate studies. Looking back, I am so glad I made the right choice to pursue this program, as my two years’ MES study with Penn have been fantastic. With highly responsive and supportive faculty and a wide range of courses available, I have greatly increased my knowledge and expanded my insight. In particular, the program makes it possible for me to work with many great people and build wonderful experience.

In January 2010, with the recommendation of Professor Stan Laskowski, I began to volunteer at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 3 office in my spare time. I worked with the No Discharge Zone project, where my job was to review literature and summarize environmental impacts of the discharge of sewage from recreational boats in Chesapeake Bay. This work enabled me to participate in practical research for the first time in the U.S.

In the summer of 2010, I began to intern full time with the World Widelife Fund-US in Washington, D.C. My work there focuses on data analysis of Protected Area Downgrading, Downsizing and Degazettement (PADDD) cases. With the expertise I developed from statistics and GIS courses I took in the MES program, I can properly handle the job assigned to me and skillfully conduct the analysis of extent, patterns, trends, and causes of PADDD. I enjoy this internship and have learnt a lot from it.

I will undertake another internship with the United Nation Headquarters beginning September 2010. I will work in the Statistics Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Assignments during this internship may include helping with updating UNSD Environmental Indicators, researching country practices on environment statistics, helping with the Knowledge Base development, and conducting research for the project on revising the Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics. I excitedly look forward to this internship and I am sure I can obtain more wonderful experience and further improve myself from it.