My name is Junita Sirait, a rising sophomore (class of 2022). I come from Indonesia, a country with tropical climate and beautiful nature. Academically, I am interested in Mathematics and Computer Science, although I also enjoy learning about subjects that are new to me, such as German Language and Religion. Outside of class, I enjoy shooting archery, wandering around our beautiful campus, and hanging out with friends. I am doing Paulson Initiative internship this summer because I am interested in connecting with Wellesley as a place, interacting and getting to know wildlife (animals and plants) around Wellesley, and also doing something impactful through projects and collaborations with interdisciplinary faculty and peers. I am very excited to embark on this 9-week internship journey with all other interns and looking forward to work on wonderful projects and activities together!

Hi Everyone! My name is Kristine and I am a rising junior (class of 2021) from Ann Arbor, Michigan. I am majoring in Environmental Studies and minoring in Chinese. I am also a member of the field hockey team here at Wellesley. One of my favorite things about Wellesley is its campus. I always feel like I’m walking around a big park on my way to classes, practices, and events on campus. Because of this, I am really excited to learn more about the landscape this summer through the Paulson Initiative Internship. I think it will provide me many resources that will help me form a new perspective on the important role the natural and constructed environments play in making Wellesley the place that it is.

I’m a rising senior majoring in studio art and minoring in environmental studies. I’ve lived in Loveland, a small city along the front range of the Rockies in Colorado, for two years. I grew up in the rural north-western corner of Massachusetts, where I came to love spending time outside. I learned to draw, play violin and piano, and act in plays. Once I came to Wellesley, I began to seek ways to merge my arts background with an interest in science, specifically ecology, biology, and environmental science. This summer, my fascination with how and why science and the arts intersect brought me to become involved in the Paulson Initiative. I’m interested in exploring research and social issues related to the environment with tools like maps, charts, illustration, collage, word-based art, and sculpture. While here, I hope to enable and encourage my peers to develop a deeper sense of place on campus. Additionally, I’m a member of Wellesley Blue Jazz and work in the theater. I like to rock-climb, find ways to travel without driving or flying, meet new people, and listen to Fresh Air with Terry Gross.

Annabel Brazaitis studies English and art history at Wellesley College. Her project for the Paulson Initiative focused on the interplay of ecology and performance art.

At Wellesley, I study Cinema and Media Studies and Music. I am interested in finding thoughtful ways of engaging with ourselves, each other, and the landscape. I work with different artistic mediums to explore the changing role and methods of communication, especially in light of technological advancements. Observing the changes in Wellesley landscape throughout the seasons is a little like tracing my own growth at the college. As a first year, I greeted every changing season with surprise and ecstasy. Now as a junior, I have found my favorite spots to watch the sunset and go sledding. Just as I’ve come to learn about myself over time, I have also come to form a relationship of mutual love and support with our wonderful landscape.

My name is Katherine Muniz and I'm part of Wellesley's Class of 2022. I will be majoring in Environmental Studies with a minor in Chemistry. My favorite place at Wellesley is anywhere around the lake. This year I was a part of the Water Challenge's Biodiversity team. We focused on how different water sources would affect the life surrounding Paramecium Pond. In our research, we used plankton as a determinate, although plankton may seem insignificant they are at the bottom of the food web therefore any change in population would have a domino effect on the rest of the biodiversity.

My name is Amy Quintanilla, and I am a rising Sophomore from Panorama City, California. I plan on majoring in Environmental Physics and hope to attend graduate school for Environmental Engineering afterwards. This summer I was given the opportunity to participate in the Water Challenge; my team within the project focused on biodiversity within the Paramecium Pond system on campus and how we can preserve life while introducing a new, sustainable water source. This program has allowed me to view our campus and the nature it holds in a new light, and I am excited to continue working with the Water Challenge this school year. 

My name is Chansie Yang and part of the Class of 2022. I am interested in pursuing both an Environmental Studies and Biological Sciences major. This summer, I studied the Paramecium Pond system and Lake Waban with a focus on water chemistry along with Timia Kennerly (’22). Given the significant difference in temperature between groundwater and other alternative water sources for Paramecium Pond, our group set out to determine whether temperature change will affect the rates of a few environmental processes that play a role in the system’s wellbeing.