Andre Eanes
Andre Eanes, '20, transferred to University of Richmond in Fall 2018. He is studying biology and serving as the president of the student group Green UR. Read about Andre's involvement in sustainability and the impact that a year at UR has had in our full interview below.
Why did you choose to study biology here at UR?
I spent two years at Hesston College before I came to University of Richmond. I actually started my freshman year as a business major, and I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. Then, for a freshman English class, I wrote a paper on climate change, and it occurred to me that this was something I was genuinely passionate about. After speaking with some professors, I switched my major and later earned my associate's degree in environmental science. For my bachelor's degree, I knew I wanted to attend a smaller school closer to home, and University of Richmond was a good fit. Now that I'm here, I am acutely aware of the extraordinary resources available to students at UR.
At Hesston, environmental science covered a lot of biology courses and gave me an interdisciplinary look at ecology and environmental issues. Once I got to UR, that coursework fit best with a biology major. I think studying biology has given me a solid base of scientific thought and understanding, and it has allowed me to focus on ecology while also branching out to courses related to geography and environmental studies.
What sparked your interest in sustainability?
Towards the end of high school and going into college, sustainability was something I liked to talk about, research, and write about, but it never clicked with me that environmental issues were something I wanted to focus on in college. After writing that paper on climate change my freshman year, I have been gradually refining and developing my vision for how I want to involve myself in the realm of environmental advocacy and sustainability. The more I've dug into it, the more I've come to love studying the reciprocal cause-and-effect relationships between humans and the environment. Through environmental science courses, I’ve gained a stronger understanding of the interconnected social, ecological, economic, and governmental dimensions of sustainability, and its interdisciplinary nature has really drawn me in. Going forward, one area I'm really interested in going into is sustainable development with an ecological focus, particularly in urban contexts.
Can you describe the research you're working on this summer?
I've been working with Dr. Todd Lookingbill and a couple other students, Kelly Saverino and Rong Bao, on mapping air quality in Richmond. The premise is to understand the spatial variability of air quality throughout the city and correlate that with socioeconomic and geographic factors. This research branches off a previous urban heat island study in Richmond, which showed that areas with higher levels of poverty, higher density development with more rented units, and less access to green space are more vulnerable to the urban heat island effect.
What was your experience like with Green UR last year and what is the group's vision for this year?
I became the president of Green UR this past spring. We planned a whole series of Earth Week events focused on sustainability and business last semester. We also talked with the student government associations about integrating sustainability into the broader curriculum at UR, which is an ongoing discussion. Green UR's main goal is to partner with offices, departments, and other student groups to act as a voice for sustainability and environmental awareness on campus.
For this year, we've talked about supporting more Rethink Waste games, expanding compost on campus, and working with the administration to talk about the possibility of improving building efficiency and divesting from fossil fuels. If students want to join the group, they can contact me or find us at Spiderfest in the fall.
How has your understanding of sustainability changed during your time at University of Richmond?
Classes that I've taken with professors like Todd Lookingbill, Jennifer Sevin, and Mary Finley-Brook have all influenced how I understand human impacts on the environment and the breadth of sustainability. Last semester, I also took a spring break trip to Louisiana with SEEDS, where I was able to witness first-hand the complex relationships between people and the environment in light of rising sea levels, degrading wetlands, and the area's economic dependence on fossil fuels. Since then, I have been further inspired to study the intersection of social, economic, and environmental issues. Overall, my time so far at University of Richmond has helped me narrow and refine my vision for myself as I consider moving towards a career in the realm of sustainable development. I've come to understand how I can make a unique contribution with a background in ecology and a passion for an interdisciplinary approach to sustainability.
What advice would you give to students who want to get more involved in sustainability?
I would encourage students to reach out to sustainably-minded organizations on campus or students and faculty in departments like Environmental Studies, Geography, or Biology. They're all happy to talk with students about what they're passionate about and advise them on how they can become proponents of sustainability in their respective areas of interest. In general, I would also say that if students are interested in sustainability but don't want to major in a directly related subject, there are a variety of ways they can integrate sustainability into whatever their field of study is. Sustainability is needed everywhere, and you can have a mindset that promotes sustainability in virtually any career or industry.
Thank you Andre for all you do to support sustainability here at University of Richmond! Do you know someone who should be featured as a Sustainability Champion? Let us know at sustainability@richmond.edu.