Author: <span>Maya Whalen-Kipp</span>

From Sustainable Economic Development to Food Systems Ag-Tech Innovation

Recent college graduates are increasingly valuing innovation, social justice, and sustainability in their professional goals. Like many other ambitious, problem solving, social justice and environmentally minded young people, I joined the U.S. Peace Corps, dedicating two years of my early professional life to international development. Any RPCV (Returned Peace Corps …

Influential Fijian Women, Coconuts, and Me

In the South Pacific, it’s no surprise that coconuts are a big deal. Their usage is endless!–from a building material, to a source of healthy fat, to handmade virgin coconut oil that is used to prevent the spread of common skin disease such as scabies.   The complimentary phrase “vanka …

A Not So Shrimpy Environmental Issue: Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Aquaculture Production in Mangroves

Mangroves are arguably the coolest ecosystem on the planet, in addition to being one of the most biologically productive. Mangroves are trees with above-ground root systems that are partially submerged in water. They are located predominantly in tropical and subtropical coastal regions where freshwater meets the sea. These ecological powerhouses …