Scholarship Spotlight: Ripley Dossett

We are excited to share our next Scholarship Spotlight, featuring Ripley Dossett, an Environmental & Sustainability Studies major. 

"After taking Environmental Sociology with Brett Clark, I felt a piece click into place for me. I had been struggling with feeling fulfilled in my Biology major; what we were learning was important, but I felt like it wasn't looking at the whole picture. After taking Brett's class, I realized that problems concerning climate change, conservation, and sustainability could not be solved with science alone. ⁠
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I came to understand that these problems are also social problems that needed to be solved for people in order to see meaningful change. For example, all of our research that proves fossil fuels are one of the major drivers of climate change means nothing if people have no other choice but to drive cars to participate in society. After switching my major to ENVST, I realized climate change will not be solved by flashy technological fixes, but rather it must be demanded by the people through collective social action. I now feel as though I am truly working towards a greater goal and that the work I do matters."⁠