Two Drew students, Willa S. and Lucero A., recently attended a Commonwealth Club World Affairs program on the Emerging Arctic Ocean, where they had the opportunity to hear directly from leading voices in ocean conservation and environmental policy.
The talk featured a panel of prominent speakers, including Enric Sala, National Geographic Explorer and filmmaker; Luie Porta, Program Director of the Arctic Ocean Initiative; and Barbara Wahalala Giadnak Blake, Vice President of Arctic Conservation at Ocean Conservancy. Before the formal program began, the Commonwealth Club arranged a special opportunity for students to meet the speakers and ask questions about their work and the future of Arctic conservation.
Drew students were given a unique opportunity to engage directly with the panelists. Following the discussion, the speakers were so impressed with their curiosity and thoughtful questions that they invited Willa and Lucero to conduct interviews for an upcoming podcast.
For Lucero, the experience offered a powerful reminder of the impact of collaboration and perseverance in environmental work.“I personally thought it was very interesting and important to learn about the different things these ocean leaders are doing,” Lucero shared. “Being able to sit with them personally and hear their different ideas connect and come together to become one whole was amazing. They reminded me to have hope for the future, despite the things that are going on, and to keep advocating because when you work hard, you can truly make a difference, no matter how big or small.”
Willa was equally inspired by the diverse perspectives represented among the speakers and how their experiences connected to her own studies at Drew. “Meeting Arctic activists was not only informative, but it was also encouraging,” Willa reflected. “Although all of them had similar goals, they came from such diverse backgrounds and had different ways of using their voice. It was inspiring to know that there are so many ways to make change, and progress is not always linear.”
She added that the experience directly connects to her work in Drew’s Climate Academy and Green Team, where students explore environmental issues and develop leadership around sustainability. “I am so grateful for this experience because of how it connects to what I have studied in Climate Academy and my work in Green Team. Drew has not only helped me study these passions but has encouraged and given me opportunities like this, which have helped me develop valuable leadership and communication skills.”
Experiences like this reflect what makes learning at Drew distinctive—students engaging with real-world environmental issues, connecting with global leaders, and stepping confidently into conversations that shape the future of our planet.
View photos and video from the event here
Watch the first episode of the podcast interview on Youtube, more will be released soon!
Explore more The Arctic: An Emerging Ocean
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