
This year, I spent quite a different Thanksgiving break. Instead of enjoying a delicious dinner with my dear F&ES friends in New Haven, I was in Guadalajara (my hometown) enjoying Mexican dishes and tequila with my family and closest friends. I traveled home and visited my alma mater, ITESO University (Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Occidente), where I obtained my bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering in 2011. Many memories came to mind as I was walking through ITESO’s student halls and its astonishing gardens.

Interested in the electric industry? Fifteen students from the F&ES course, “Electric Utilities: An Industry in Transition,” trekked north to visit the ISO New England (ISO-NE) facility in Holyoke, Massachusetts. ISO-NE oversees the operation of New England’s bulk electric power system and transmission lines. The visit allowed students to learn more about New England power prices and the current condition of energy supply in the region. Stephen J. Rourke, the Vice President of Systems Planning, and Molly Connors, the External Affairs Representative, provided students with a personal tour and presentation regarding ISO-NE. Students learned about load forecasting, emergency preparedness responses, and regional solar and wind generation.

At F&ES, students dive deep in their diverse passions and focus outside classrooms through a unique way – Student Interest Groups (SIG). As one of the fastest growing SIGs, Energy SIG (NRG) focuses on increasing opportunities and knowledge within the energy sector at Yale and providing a rigorous learning community for students interested in the nexus between energy, business, and the environment. NRG organizes diverse activities, including hosting guest speakers, running workshops, organizing field trips, and providing networking opportunities. The members of the SIG are known as electrons. Here we featured the experience of three electrons attending energy-focused conferences in New York, Boston, and Palo Alto in November.
1. Cornell Energy Connection 2018
By Lucy (Myung Eun) Shim, MESc ’20
My name is Lucy Shim, and I’m…

This piece is part of a series of posts looking to highlight the Global, Interdisciplinary and Entrepreneurial character of F&ES. It’s hard to keep track of all the initiatives students are involved in, and we hope to provide a spotlight for them. For prospective students who wish to know more, and current students who wish to have their work featured in this series, please email fesinfo@yale.edu.
When it comes to the potential ramifications of international development and trade, F&ES students Tina Huang M.E.M. ’19 (China), Kate Logan M.E.M. ’20 (United States) and Nicholas Lo M.E.Sc ’19 (Hong Kong) share the goal of creating awareness among their peers, by making sure they spread dialogue in the U.S. about the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a Chinese…

Written by Vinzenz Held,
I am Vinzenz, Master of Forest Science candidate at the Technische Universität München, (Technical University of Munich) and I will spend one year at F&ES studying forestry. Before starting school, I worked on ecological hunting concepts and integrative conservation concepts in temperate forests with the Bavarian state forest. Afterwards, I was in Uganda, where I worked on a reforestation program with the German-based nonprofit “Fairventures Worldwide”.
A few weeks ago, I was fortunate to attend the 2018 Society of American Foresters (SAF) convention in Portland, Oregon. I was lucky enough to attend many interesting presentations, some of which included the latest research from my peers at F&ES and to connect with forestry professionals from all over the United States. The presentations were all designed around…

Hello, my name is Sundara Bhandaram and I am a first year MEM student specializing in business and the environment. I am the newest student assistant with the Yale F&ES Admissions Office. Over the last two months, I have been able to dive into F&ES classes, culture, and life and I am incredibly honored and grateful to be a part of this wonderful community.
I was born in Hyderabad, India and moved to Southern California six years afterwards. Growing up in Southern California I loved being so close to the Pacific Ocean. However, I was always reminded that we lived in the desert as we had many water scarcity issues. There were many summers where we had water restrictions in place and I became intrigued by water issues in…

你好 Ni Hao,
I am Aaron Feng, a first-year Master of Environmental Management (MEM) student from China and a new student worker in the Admissions Office this academic year. As an international student, social entrepreneur, and unconventional “forester” at the lower age range at F&ES, I want to bring a unique perspective and contribute to the diversity of the community. I believe working with admissions will grant me precious opportunities to interface with prospective students and showcase my experience in this beloved community.
Life before F&ES
Born and raised in Wuhan, an industrial transportation hub with a population of 8 million in Central China, I connected with the environment in a very different way from most of my colleagues at F&ES. Many of my classmates here love nature…

Written by Javier Gonzalez Rivero ’19 M.E.M.
Do you remember being on the other side of the river? A few days ago, I traveled to Mexico City, the capital of my home country. I had the opportunity to visit ITAM (Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México) once again, a university where I graduated from with a diploma course in environmental economics. My time as an ITAM student in 2013 was a stepping stone that propelled me to come to F&ES.
The session was arranged in collaboration with the F&ES Admissions office, and the ITAM Office of International Affair. The goal of my visit was to explain recent changes in the F&ES curriculum, and to pique Mexican students’ interest on the 5 different programs offered by the school.
The…