Eve Gutman '15, a junior anthropology major, had the opportunity to explore the connection between community advocacy and environmental conservation research this summer. Through the Center for Peace and Global Citizenship (CPGC), Gutman received funding to work for EnergyVision in New York. This non-profit is a leader in alternative fuel research and a proponent of petroleum-free, biomethane transportation.

Gutman's first opportunity to witness environmental conservation in action came through an externship with EnergyVision during winter break of her sophomore year. This short externship, which was sponsored by Haverford's Career Development Office, sparked her interest in working on a larger project for the non-profit. Support from the CPGC allowed her to return to EnergyVision for the summer to study the methods and benefits of compost waste and alternative fuels. She hopes her research can be used  â€œto better advise local and state governments in how to transition away from diesel and towards biomethane.”

Influenced by her anthropology coursework, Gutman has approached environmental conservation from a critical cultural perspective.“Working in New York City has allowed me to locate waste disposal and alternative fuels issues that I've been researching within the context of what's happening in the city on these fronts,” she says. The importance of human-environment interaction is something Gutman will continue to examine in her coursework and, potentially, in her senior thesis as she looks toward a future career in research and activism.

—Shannon Smith ‘15