Email: chings@uwaterloo.ca
I am originally from Montreal, where I achieved my Bachelor’s in Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at McGill University. I’m currently pursuing my master’s here at the University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ in the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability. Human development has drastically altered the environment and that people are drastically affected by the changing environment, but I believe that people have the power and ability to develop in favor of the planet rather than working against it. I want to be part of the movement toward a sustainably developing planet, bringing synchronicity to economic resilience, social well-being and the environmental integrity to transform current societies into societies that are not only environmentally sustainable, but are also culturally sustainable. My research focuses on gaining a better understanding of the human-environment interactions between people and the Lake Huron shoreline by examining the benefits people receive from beach grass. From here, protection and conservation methods for the fragile beach-dune ecosystems that maximize well-being without compromising environmental soundness can be developed. This works to improve resilience of the system, influence more sustainable societal values in coastal communities and conserve valuable coastal resources.