Student Spotlight: Shifting Gears From Mitigation to Prevention
Tyler Zorn was already working in environmental consulting firms before he enrolled in the Master of Science in Sustainability Science (SUSCI) program at Columbia. But even while he found his job worthwhile and necessary, Zorn had a realization: He wanted to focus on preventing environmental degradation rather than stepping in to deal with the aftermath.
As Zorn prepares to graduate from the SUSCI program in the spring, he plans to use the tools and experience gained from his time at Columbia to achieve his aim of working for a climate technology startup that centers sustainability to accomplish ambitious carbon removal goals. In the Q&A below, Zorn discusses his highlights from the SUSCI program and how he hopes to integrate them into his future career.
What drew you to the SUSCI program?
While my passions and strengths lie within the environmental sector, I recognized that additional knowledge in sustainability science would catalyze my career progression. During my previous work experience, I was in a reactive industry dealing with the remediation of redevelopment sites. While the work was rewarding, the need for environmental mitigation could have been avoided if contamination was prevented from the start. I realized that even though negative impacts have already affected the environment, I truly aspire to be on the proactive side of sustainability while it is still possible. The prospect of learning the use of cutting-edge scientific methods and instruments was highly appealing. I wanted to acquire tools in the classroom that I could then apply towards conservation outside of it. The scientific foundation, sustainability motivation, collaborative efforts and developmental opportunities made this program the clear choice for me.
… (rest of the content)
