Recognized for advancing understanding of environmental sustainability

Three graduate students from the International Development, Community, and Environment (IDCE) department at Clark University are among the 2023 recipients of the Albert, Norma, and Howard Geller ’77 Endowed Research Awards. The fellowships support student-initiated research projects that advance our understanding of natural resource and environmental sustainability and develop practical improvements that can move society towards more sustainable outcomes.

The 2023 recipients include:

• Oluwole Olakunle Ajayi, M.A. International Development, for Gender Equality: The Pathway to Food Systems Security, Economic Sustainability, and Ecological Preservation. Faculty Mentor: Jude Fernando.
• Josaphat Barcenas Argueta, M.A. International Development, for Green Economy: Its Role in Lithium Extraction and Climate Change. Faculty Mentor: Denise Humphreys Bebbington
• Abby Beilman, B.A. Environmental Science/M.A. Environmental Science and Policy, for Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter in the Blackstone River Watershed: Winter to Spring Transitions. Faculty Mentors: Tim Downs and Karen Frey

Each year, submissions for the Geller Research Fellowships are evaluated on their relevance to practical approaches of advancing sustainability, originality and innovation, the clarity and feasibility of their research plan, and other criteria. An interdepartmental faculty committee that shares Howard Geller’s interest in student research and activism for sustainability selects the successful proposals.