Student News

ENVS PhD Candidate and Associate Professor Publish Paper on Thailand’s Role in the Future of Alternative Proteins

Liz Holland — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:45:49 +0000

ENVS PhD Candidate and Associate Professor Publish Paper on Thailand’s Role in the Future of Alternative Proteins Liz Holland Thu, 02/20/2025 - 09:45

Thailand’s Role in the Future of Alternative Proteins

The global food system is undergoing a transformation, and alternative proteins—such as plant-based, insect-based, and cultured (lab-grown) proteins—are at the forefront of this shift. As concerns over environmental sustainability, food security, and ethical food production grow, many countries are exploring their role in shaping the future of protein production. A new study by ENVS PhD candidate Waverly Eichhorst and ENVS Associate Professor Peter Newton, published in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, examines Thailand’s potential as a leader in producing cultured protein (CP).

Why Thailand?

Thailand has a rapidly industrializing economy, a strong presence in global food production, and an interest in sustainability. However, the development of cultured protein technologies in middle- and low-income countries remains largely unexplored. This research seeks to understand how Thailand can foster an innovation system that supports cultured protein production.

Key Findings from the Study

Eichhorst and Newton used a technological innovation systems framework to assess Thailand’s current landscape for CP development. Their mixed-methods approach included a qualitative document review and semi-structured interviews with 17 industry experts. Their findings highlight both opportunities and challenges in the country’s path to becoming a leader in alternative proteins.

Opportunities for Growth

Initial Industry Engagement: Various actors, including government agencies, private companies, and research institutions, are beginning to explore CP technologies.
Sustainability & Food Security Benefits: Cultured protein could reduce environmental pressures from traditional agriculture while improving food security.
Transnational Collaboration Potential: Leveraging global expertise could help Thailand build its CP sector.

Challenges to Overcome

Regulatory Approval: Thailand lacks clear regulations for CP products, which could slow innovation.
Manufacturing & Technical Expertise: The country needs more specialized knowledge and infrastructure to scale CP production.
Consumer Acceptance: Widespread adoption of CP products will depend on cultural perceptions and market demand.

What’s Next?

A couple of years ago, and before the paper was published, Waverly travelled to the Netherlands to share the team's preliminary findings with a diverse audience at the International Scientific Conference on Cultured Meat in Maastricht, the Netherlands. They received some great feedback on their work during the conference, and Waverly was also able connect with other researchers conducting research on cultured proteins from diverse disciplinary backgrounds.

For Thailand to establish itself as a leader in cultured protein, stronger stakeholder engagement is needed. The study suggests that transnational partnerships could help bridge gaps in expertise and resources, while further research into consumer attitudes and market potential will be essential.

As global food systems evolve, Thailand has the opportunity to position itself at the cutting edge of sustainable protein production. With strategic investment and collaboration, the country could play a pivotal role in shaping the future of food.

🔗 Read the full paper here: Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

A new study by ENVS PhD candidate Waverly Eichhorst and ENVS Associate Professor Peter Newton, published in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, explores Thailand’s potential as a leader in cultured protein (CP) production. As the global food system undergoes transformation, alternative proteins—including plant-based, insect-based, and lab-grown options—are gaining prominence due to concerns over environmental sustainability, food security, and ethical food production. The study examines how Thailand, with its strong agricultural sector and emerging food technology landscape, could play a key role in shaping the future of protein production.

Off

Traditional

White

Introducing Dr. Vasco Chavez-Molina

Liz Holland — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 17:18:17 +0000

Introducing Dr. Vasco Chavez-Molina Liz Holland Fri, 09/27/2024 - 11:18

The �鶹ӰԺ’s Department of Environmental Studies is thrilled to congratulate Dr. Vasco Chavez-Molina after successfully defending his dissertation this week!

Dr. Chavez-Molina’s upbringing in Perú deeply influenced his academic and professional path. Born and raised in one of the world’s most vibrant ecosystems, Dr. Chavez-Molina understood the importance of conservation and sought to have experiences in higher education that would allow him to be a leader in that space. Dr. Chavez-Molina earned a bachelor's degree in environmental science at the College of Holy Cross before making his way to �鶹ӰԺ. Dr. Chavez-Molina first joined us here at the University of Colorado as a student in our Masters of the Environment (MENV) Graduate Program. During his time in MENV, Dr. Chavez-Molina worked with the Governor’s Climate and Forest Task Force where he developed investment strategies aimed at fostering sustainable agricultural supply chains in the Amazon rainforest. As a student in MENV, he also met Dr. Cassandra Brooks. After completing his master’s degree, he joined the Brooks Lab as a full-time researcher, focusing on policy analysis and fisheries management in the Southern Ocean. This role eventually opened the door to his PhD studies, where Dr. Chavez-Molina studied the intricate governance challenges involved in managing marine resources across local, regional, and international levels.

On Wednesday, Dr. Chavez-Molina defended his dissertation in a presentation titled “In search of solutions for international conservation: Analyzing the governance complexities of managing marine resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction”. The guiding questions: “How can we legally protect marine ecosystems in the areas beyond national jurisdiction? How can we manage natural resources across the fragmented frameworks that make up the high seas? And how can we better govern marine resources within this critical region?” were addressed in Dr. Chavez-Molina's work. Throughout the four-part presentation, Dr. Chavez-Molina shared information about the nuances of agency oversight at the international, regional, and national level; the actors and institutions at play in this area of natural resources conservation and management; and the ways in which global politics and policy play a crucial role in accomplishing this important work and recommendations for the future.

If you are interested in reading more from Dr. Chavez-Molina's portfolio of published works, click the links below:

Chavez-Molina, V., Wagner, D., Nocito, E. S., Benedum, M., Gaymer, C. F., Currie, D., Beam, E. G., & Brooks, C. M. (2023b). Protecting the Salas y Gomez and Nazca Ridges: A review of policy pathways for creating conservation measures in the international waters of the Southeast Pacific. Marine Policy, 152(March), 105594. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105594

Chavez-Molina, V., Becker, S. L., Carr, E., Cavanagh, R. D., Dorman, D., Nocito, E., Sylvester, Z., Wallace, B., White, C., & Brooks, C. M. (2023a). Managing for Climate Resilient Fisheries: Applications to the Southern Ocean. Ocean and Coastal Management, 239 (March), 106580. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4149306

Brooks, C.M., D.G. Ainley, J. Jacquet, S.L. Chown, L.R. Pertierra, E. Francis, A. Rogers, Chavez-Molina, V., L. Teh, U.R. Sumaila. (2022). Protect global values of the Southern Ocean ecosystem. Science, 378: 477-479.

Kiffner, C., Baylis, J., Beckwith, C., Brunner, C., Burns, C., Chavez-Molina, V., Cotton, S., Glazik L., Loftis, E., Morgan, M., O’Neill, C., Theisinger, O., Kioko, J. & Kissui B. (2020) Long-term persistence of wildlife populations in a pastoral area. Ecology and Evolution 10: 10000-10016, https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6658

We are thrilled to congratulate Dr. Chavez-Molina on his great work and successful defense! Way to go!

The �鶹ӰԺ’s Department of Environmental Studies congratulates Dr. Vasco Chavez-Molina on successfully defending his dissertation on marine resource governance. His dissertation addressed the governance complexities of managing marine ecosystems in areas beyond national jurisdiction, exploring legal protections and policy solutions for high seas conservation.

Off

Traditional

White

Graduate Students at CU �鶹ӰԺ Leading the Future of Environmental Research

Liz Holland — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 19:21:06 +0000

Graduate Students at CU �鶹ӰԺ Leading the Future of Environmental Research Liz Holland Thu, 09/12/2024 - 13:21

Graduate students at CU �鶹ӰԺ’s Environmental Studies department are leading research on critical global challenges like species conservation, ecological economics, and food security. Researchers like Christian Suarez, Waverly Eichhorst, and Margaret Hegwood are tackling today’s most pressing environmental issues, shaping the future of food policy and environmental conservation efforts worldwide.

The Environmental Studies Colloquium Series plays an important role in this process, providing a platform for students to present their work, gain feedback, and collaborate with peers and experts. This exchange of ideas helps refine research and drives real-world impact, ensuring that CU �鶹ӰԺ’s graduate students remain at the forefront of sustainable policy development.

Christian Suarez: Exploring the Economics of Conservation

Christian Suarez, a second-year PhD student at CU �鶹ӰԺ, is focusing on the intersection of economics and environmental conservation. With a background in economics and political science, Christian’s academic journey into environmental studies began in 2020.

Christian’s current research investigates the role of ecological economics in shaping conservation policies. He explores concepts like contingent valuation, willingness to pay, and the economic trade-offs in species reintroduction. One of his first jumping-off points is examining Colorado's grey wolf reintroduction, the first democratically elected species reintroduction in world history.

As Christian refines his research going forward, one thing that remains vital is understanding how public perception drives conservation policy, and how economic reasoning helps incentivize policymakers to prioritize conservation efforts within a budget-constrained framework.

Waverly Eichorst: Addressing Food Security through Singapore’s 30 by 30 Initiative

Waverly, another talented graduate student at CU �鶹ӰԺ, is researching Singapore’s "30 by 30" initiative, which aims to locally produce 30% of the country’s food by 2030. Singapore imports over 90% of its food and has less than 1% of land available for agriculture, making this initiative a crucial case study for global food production/security policies.

Supported by NIFA and USDA, Waverly is investigating the real-world impacts of Singapore's policies on agricultural productivity. Through on-site farm visits and interviews, she is assessing the technical, financial, and regulatory challenges that Singapore’s agricultural sector faces, such as high production costs and a lack of consumer demand for local produce. Her research aims to uncover strategies for Singapore to overcome these challenges through innovation, R&D, and diversified agricultural products.

Waverly’s findings could have far-reaching implications, not only for Singapore but for global efforts to enhance food security.

Margaret Hegwood: U.S. Food System Regulation

Margaret Hegwood, a fifth-year PhD student in CU �鶹ӰԺ’s Environmental Studies department, is researching food system regulation in the United States. Supported by the USDA and CIRES’ Center for Social and Environmental Futures (C-SEF), part of Margaret’s dissertation is centered on the regulatory frameworks that shape the U.S. food system.

Margaret delved into the intricacies of the U.S. regulatory system, discussing what regulations are, who enforces them, and the pros and cons of the current framework for food systems. Margaret’s research sheds light on differences in how regulations impact low-emission versus high-emission food industries, offering insights into the effectiveness of environmental policies.

The insights gained from her work could have significant implications for the future of food system regulation and policy in the U.S.

Leading the Charge in Environmental Policy

These graduate students at CU �鶹ӰԺ demonstrate the department's commitment to addressing complex environmental challenges through interdisciplinary research. From the economics of species reintroduction to global food security and U.S. food system regulation, their work is laying the groundwork for sustainable, impactful environmental policies. Stay tuned for updates on their progress and learn how their research is driving change for a more sustainable future.

Off

Traditional

White

Emma Galofré García selected as a Gilliam fellow

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 18:06:03 +0000

Emma Galofré García selected as a Gilliam fellow Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 07/31/2024 - 12:06

We are thrilled to announce that Emma Galofré García, a PhD student in ENVS, has been selected as a Gilliam Fellow, along with her advisor, Dr. Karen Bailey! The Gilliam Fellows Program financially supports each student-adviser pair for up to three years of the student’s dissertation research. For Emma, the fellowship will support her ongoing research in ecology.

This year's cohort of 50 exceptional student-adviser pairs were selected from a field of over 700 applications, the most in the program’s history! Hailing from a record 43 institutions – ten of which are receiving a Gilliam Fellowship for the first time – these students and faculty reflect the incredible breadth of scientific talent that exists throughout our country.

Congratulations Emma and Karen!

Off

Traditional

White

Dr. Lambert and Rosie Sanchez interviewed featured in film about the Colorado wolf reintroduction initiative

Anonymous — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 18:24:18 +0000

Dr. Lambert and Rosie Sanchez interviewed featured in film about the Colorado wolf reintroduction initiative Anonymous (not verified) Sat, 07/20/2024 - 12:24

Dr. Joanna Lambert and current PhD Student, Alma "Rosie" Sanchez have been working for years on the Colorado wolf reintroduction initiative. Now, a film series tells the success story of this initiaitve, which is the first time a federally protected endangered species has been reintroduced via a democratic vote/ballot initiative. The first film of the series features both Dr. Lambert and Rosie! It premiered on July 18, and was followed by a speaker panel in which Dr. Lambert participated (as shown in image).

See the film trailer below and learn more about this incredible iniative here.

[video:https://vimeo.com/979366728]

Off

Traditional

White

ENVS PhD Student Hilary Brumberg publishes in "Remote Sensing"

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 02:04:57 +0000

ENVS PhD Student Hilary Brumberg publishes in "Remote Sensing" Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 03/28/2024 - 20:04

Current ENVS PhD student, Hilary Brumberg, co-authored a paper that was just published in 'Remote Sensing'.

The paper explores the relationship between forest management initiatives—specifically Protected Areass, the 1996 Forest Law, and Payment for Ecosystem Services —and forest cover and landscape metrics in the Osa Conservation Area (ACOSA).

While protected areas (PAs) are an important conservation strategy to protect vulnerable ecosystems and species, recent analyses question their effectiveness in curbing deforestation and maintaining landscape connectivity. The spatial arrangement of forests inside and outside of PAs may affect ecosystem functioning and wildlife movement. The Osa Peninsula—and Costa Rica in general—are unique conservation case studies due to their high biodiversity, extensive PA network, environmental policies, and payment for ecosystem services (PES) programs.

Read Hilary and team's excellent paper here

Off

Traditional

White

Two ENVS PhD Students Named the 2023 Recipients of the Radford Byerly, Jr. Award in Science and Technology Policy

Anonymous — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 16:34:47 +0000

Two ENVS PhD Students Named the 2023 Recipients of the Radford Byerly, Jr. Award in Science and Technology Policy Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 03/18/2024 - 10:34

ENVS PhD students, Natalie Bennett and Emma Galofre Garcia, were named the 2023 recipients of the Radford Byerly, Jr. Award in Science and Technology Policy. The award now supports CU �鶹ӰԺ graduate students with a demonstrated commitment to making a significant contribution to science and technology policy. Read more about the award and past recipients here.

(Award winners pictured to the right. Natalie Bennett on the left, and Emma Galofre Garcia on the right)

Off

Traditional

White

On April 4, ENVS will welcome Dr. Naomi Oreskes as the 2024 Patricia Sheffels Visiting Scholar

Anonymous — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 16:49:21 +0000

On April 4, ENVS will welcome Dr. Naomi Oreskes as the 2024 Patricia Sheffels Visiting Scholar Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 03/14/2024 - 10:49

Join us in welcome Dr. Naomi Oreskes as this year's Patricia Sheffels Visiting Scholar! We are thrilled to hear from Dr. Oreskes on her talk, Epistemic Privilege and the Gender of Climate Change Denial.

�鶹ӰԺ Naomi:

Naomi Oreskes is Henry Charles Lea Professor of the History of Science and Affiliated Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Harvard University. A world-renowned earth scientist, historian and public speaker, she is the author of the best-selling book, Merchants of Doubt (2010) and a leading voice on the role of science in society, the reality of anthropogenic climate change, and the role of disinformation in blocking climate action. You can learn more here.

Event Details:

On Thursday April 4, ENVS will host a social hour, including lunch, with Dr. Oreskes at 2:00pm in the SEEC Atrium. Following this, Dr. Oreskes will present on her work at 3:00pm in SEEC C120.

Off

Traditional

White

Save the Date! Annual ENVS Alumni & Community Gathering

Anonymous — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 19:52:43 +0000

Save the Date! Annual ENVS Alumni & Community Gathering Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 03/07/2024 - 12:52

This spring, we're thrilled to welcome ENVS alumni and community partners back on campus! Join us for a reception and cash bar, followed by brief remarks organized by university affiliates. The event will take place at CU's University Memorial Center (UMC) room 235 on April 19, 2024, from 6:30 to 9:30 pm MT.

To read the full event details and RSVP, please visit our event page.

As part of the celebration, we'll also be saying goodbye to long-time ENVS faculty member, Dale Miller, who is retiring this year. Dale has witnessed ENVS from almost day 1 and has made a major impact on the department, including championing for Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in environmental studies. In this short video below, Dale tells the story of ENVS from its beginning and the legacy he intends to leave behind by establishing the new Rocky Mountain Community Bridge Scholarship, which supports students currently underrepresented in ENVS and environmental sciences at large.

You can read more about the scholarship here. If you are interested in providing support for this scholarship, please visit our Donate Page and include "Rocky Mountain Community Bridge (RMCB)" in the giving comments.

Off

Traditional

White

Research of ENVS Honors Student, Grace Kroeger, lands in 9News!

Anonymous — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 20:24:17 +0000

Research of ENVS Honors Student, Grace Kroeger, lands in 9News! Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 03/04/2024 - 13:24

Off

Traditional

White

Student News

ENVS PhD Candidate and Associate Professor Publish Paper on Thailand’s Role in the Future of Alternative Proteins

Thailand’s Role in the Future of Alternative Proteins

Why Thailand?

Key Findings from the Study

Opportunities for Growth

Challenges to Overcome

What’s Next?

Off

Introducing Dr. Vasco Chavez-Molina

Off

Graduate Students at CU �鶹ӰԺ Leading the Future of Environmental Research

Off

Emma Galofré García selected as a Gilliam fellow

Off

Dr. Lambert and Rosie Sanchez interviewed featured in film about the Colorado wolf reintroduction initiative

Off

ENVS PhD Student Hilary Brumberg publishes in "Remote Sensing"

Off

​​Two ENVS PhD Students Named the 2023 Recipients of the Radford Byerly, Jr. Award in Science and Technology Policy

Off

On April 4, ENVS will welcome Dr. Naomi Oreskes as the 2024 Patricia Sheffels Visiting Scholar

Off

Save the Date! Annual ENVS Alumni & Community Gathering

Off

Research of ENVS Honors Student, Grace Kroeger, lands in 9News!

Off

Two ENVS PhD Students Named the 2023 Recipients of the Radford Byerly, Jr. Award in Science and Technology Policy