REU Personal Statement

As a sociology major, my interests lie in how society is created, maintained and played out by social actors. Understanding the roles, symbols and meanings that society assigns to not only its participants but also the environment, is something I am fascinated by and enjoy researching and understanding. I am also interested in the interdisciplinary studying of the roles and interactions that our environment has on individuals who make up society, and how the two interplay with each other over space and time. Also, I find research that seeks to understand how different environments and locations can influence the culture being built and maintained there, to be of great academic interest and importance to my future education and career plans. Participating in this REU program would benefit my future pursuits and goals in a major way. After I obtain undergraduate degree next fall, I plan to pursue a master in environmental policy, and eventually work in the Department of Interior, helping preserve and protect public lands, as well as help implement new National Park Services properties. I hope to analyze and investigate how
While church forests play a major role in conservation in Ethiopia, the research model utilized with Colby’s REU can also be applied to the social and geospatial research that I will be doing with the DOI and NPS when researching the relationship between individuals and federal parks. Along with the research itself, I will also be strengthening my ability to connect and communicate with those in a range of fields, as the DOI is an interdisciplinary operation. By working with and utilizing GIS and survey methods in the Colby REU program, I will advance my knowledge and skills, and apply similar research models and methods for establishing NPS