It’s amazing to be able to study in the heart of the nation’s capital, where so many important decisions are made about environmental and global health. If you’re interested to learn more about the student experience, I’d love to meet with you! – Sara Strömberg
I am originally from Jakobstad, a small town on the west coast of Finland. However, after doing an internship at a thinktank in DC, I fell in love with the city. Since I already knew I wanted to pursue another master’s degree, I started looking at options in DC. I decided on the Master of Science in Environment & Sustainability Management program from the Georgetown University’s Earth Commons Institute and McDonough School of Business pretty quickly.
I wanted a degree that could help me leverage my holistic understanding of sustainability, and teach me to seamlessly communicate with different stakeholders–whether they be policy makers, industry representatives, NGOs, or financial institutions. The MS-ESM program was equipped to provide me with the knowledge, skills, and mindsets necessary for me to pursue these goals.
Why is getting an interdisciplinary environmental science degree important to you?
What I enjoy most about studying in an interdisciplinary environmental program is learning how to approach complex problems, such as climate change, from multiple perspectives and understanding how different solutions connect. Being able to communicate effectively with people from different backgrounds is something I think will be extremely valuable in the workplace.
Our cohort looks out for each other…The group is also very diverse, and everyone brings such different experiences and interests to our conversations. I’m so excited to see where we each end up in the future.
Since being in the program, I have also found a great community here. Our cohort looks out for each other and we share opportunities that we think others might be interested in. The group is also very diverse, and everyone brings such different experiences and interests to our conversations. I’m so excited to see where we each end up in the future.
The faculty and staff have also offered great support with career advice. They are always willing to help and I have already benefited from opportunities and connections they have shared with me. I will most definitely be staying in touch with my Georgetown community far beyond my graduation!
What is it like living in downtown DC?
One perk of being located in DC is being able to attend the variety of events that are organized every single day. As a Georgetown student, I have been able to participate in global events, panel discussions, think tank gatherings, and other opportunities unique to DC (I particularly enjoyed attending the World Bank’s annual meetings). Each opportunity draws in experts from various fields, and hearing them share their thoughts firsthand has been a great experience.
Many of our professors have also brought in guest speakers in our classes, and I find that to be a really rewarding experience to learn more about how something we have covered in class functions in practice. I have also been able to volunteer at events that I would not otherwise have had access to because Georgetown has organized partnerships with various local groups.
Getting to events around town is particularly easy from the Capitol Campus, since there are multiple metro and bus stops close by. Many of my classmates live just around the corner in the 55H graduate student housing!
Since DC is known as the center of free museums, I never miss an opportunity to check out iconic places like the Smithsonians!
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The location also provides access to many restaurants, cuisines, and museums.
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Plus, whenever I need a study break, I am so lucky to be able to go to the National Mall just down the road, or stroll around the Portrait Gallery after brunch.
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The location also provides access to many restaurants, cuisines, and museums. Since DC is known as the center of free museums, I never miss an opportunity to check out iconic places like the Smithsonians! Plus, whenever I need a study break, I am so lucky to be able to go to the National Mall just down the road, or stroll around the Portrait Gallery after brunch.
What kinds of opportunities are available to students at the Capitol Campus?
Among the events organized at the Capitol Campus, the ECo Talks are some of my favorites. Every Friday, a member of the Earth Commons Institute faculty or a visiting scholar presents their work and shares insights from their research. These talks are a great way to broaden your perspective and learn about topics that may not be covered in class from fields such as policy, conservation, and anthropology. The talks are followed by a networking happy hour with views of the Capitol, so they provide a great opportunity to connect with other Earth Commons Institute students, faculty, and staff!
The Earth Commons—Georgetown University’s Institute for Environment & Sustainability—hosts a film screening of “Her Shark Story” on the Capitol Campus.
Events on campus
The Earth Commons Institute, School of Health, McCourt School of Public Policy and more host many education and cultural events at the Capitol Campus.
How has living and learning in Washington, DC influenced your career?
It’s amazing to be able to study in the heart of the nation’s capital, where so many important decisions are made about environmental and global health.
The Earth Commons community is very welcoming, and it’s been great to see the breadth of the field. Even though we’re all in the same space, we approach sustainability in very different ways. That diversity of perspective has been one of the most interesting parts of the experience. People here all have interesting stories of their own, but they’re also genuinely curious about others – where you come from, your background, your interests, and what you hope to do in the future. Overall, my biggest takeaway has been how willing people are to help. Everyday kindness is easy to overlook, but it’s something I really hope to carry with me moving forward.
My biggest takeaway has been how willing people are to help. Everyday kindness is easy to overlook, but it’s something I really hope to carry with me moving forward.
If you’re interested to learn more about the student experience, I’d love to meet with you! Please schedule a chat with me using this link.
