Hi there!

I’m Qingyang, a second-year environment and sustainability student. As a Chinese girl who was raised up in urban cities, I see my whole world paved with concrete and automobiles shuttling back and force with dark smoke streamed behind. As for me, plants and dirt are supposed to show up in planters, trees are placed along the road for views and divisions of people and automobiles, and water is stored between dikes and in reservoirs to avoid catastrophic flooding on adjacent lands. I’ve never thought to pursue my career or academic path in respect of relationship with nature or environment until three years ago: my experience in Bali, Indonesia, changed my life.

I went to a summer program at Bali’s Green School named “Green Leaders’ Journey”. I slept in bamboo yurts near rice fields with insects’ lullaby at night; I hiked through forests and rice terraces; I crawled through an ancient irrigating system with bats flying just above head; I picked up garbage along white sand beaches all day. I’ll never forget my experience of battling the rapids on the Ayung river while learning about watershed ecology. I also spoke with indigenous village leaders and learned about their decision-making process considering the society-environment interaction. I talked to a 14-year-old local girl named Kiki, who was financially sponsored by her father to bring surgery trucks and surgeons to indigenous villages for poor residents who cannot afford hospital services. My experience in Bali made me fascinated about nature and I first time recognized that I am a part of the ecosystem. It also sparked in me a confidence in the bottom-up process of individuals’ abilities to change the world.

After a year and a half’s study in UBC, I have a further resolute belief of ameliorating the existing problems in respect of the global climate change and social changes. I am passionate about sustainable design, geography, geomorphology, geology, social-cultural-environmental interaction, etc. Benefited from my interest in art and the visual art courses I take here in UBC, I also use art as the medium to raise questions about some on-going critical issues in the world and promote deeper reflection.

Enjoy reading my blog!

Qingyang