Lucie Lagodich

Global MA in Climate Change & Global Sustainability
School of International Training
BA Geology & Policy Studies, Spanish minor, Lafayette College
NYCSRMC: SRMP, AMNH

How I see myself: My name is Lucie Lagodich and I double majored in Geology and Policy Studies with a concentration in Global Environmental Policy and a minor in Spanish. I am currently in the first of my two master’s degrees in climate change and global sustainability. I would describe myself as someone who is eager to get involved and do as many things as I have time for! I am particularly into environmental work and would describe myself as an environmental activist. I am fascinated by the international aspect of environmental policy and the complex relationships between climate legislation (or lack thereof) in individual nations, and how that can have worldwide effects. I love to travel and learn about other places and cultures, there is nothing I enjoy more than traveling off the beaten path and staying out of resorts. I love to hear about others’ travel experiences and stories from other countries.

My Passions: My passions lie in sustainability, and the intersection of science and policy. I hope to study and use climate research to inform policy decisions in my future career. I find the intersectionality of climate change exciting, and how climate change enters many sectors of industry and aspects of people’s lives. Environmental work is becoming increasingly important and I think it likely will only continue to grow in importance. I am spending the year abroad with the School of International Training, receiving a Global Master’s of Arts in Iceland, Tanzania, and New Zealand, studying the international effects of climate change, energy policy, and food scarcity. Then I am returning to New York City where I do climate research and be in the MA in Climate and Society program at Columbia University.

What makes you excited about working with other NYCSRMC alumni on this research study? I did this program back in my junior year of high school and had a rather unique experience. I did the program at the Museum of Natural History in the physical science cohort, which had 16 students including me. My mentor/adviser left the museum halfway through the year, and the two other students in my research team and I spent the rest of the internship on our own without reassignment. We were moved from the Earth and Planetary Studies Department to Ornithology Department and were given a room alone with little to no guidance. There were weeks when we did not see advisors. I am excited to learn about others’ research experiences and their views on the students we are following for this study, as my experience differs from most who do these programs.

How would you describe growing up in NYC? I grew up in Manhattan, NYC. I grew up in a wealthy neighborhood (TriBeCa), but this was due to my father moving to the area around 40 years ago, and securing a rent-stabilized apartment. I went to public school my whole life and went to I.S. 289 for middle school and Millennium High School for high school. My high school was very overcrowded at about 150% capacity with classes being held in the halls, and class sizes above city legal limits at times. I have been interested in science since I was very young and told people I wanted to be a scientist for as long as I can remember. This has shaped me to want to advocate for women in STEM.

Important Learning Experiences I’ve Had: Being a part of the Science Research Mentoring Program back in high school was actually a key part to encourage me to continue to study geology. In the department I was working in, there was another group of students doing research with a female geologist, who did work on planetary geology. I remember speaking to her and her hand in piloting the Mars rover, Curiosity. This was the first time I had ever met a female geologist, and her accomplishments are so incredibly impressive to me then and now. She became the first role model I had of my gender in STEM. This was an important moment to me as it was the first time I met someone similar to me with the same passions and goals, which was incredibly influential to me as a 15-year-old.

Why I’m interested in talking with other NYCSRMC alumni about this research study: My own pathway and experience participating in the NYCSRMC programs are that it inspired me to incorporate STEM into my other interests (policy). As a result, I am both a policy and geology major, looking to integrate scientific research into policy. I am curious about how these programs have influenced peers in both a similar or different way. Similar to me, I am curious if there are peers who continue to pursue STEM as a result of these programs while supporting interests in other fields.