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 Waterloo 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.