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October 20, 2014鈥擥rowing up in Wisconsin instilled a love and respect for the outdoors in major Elena Noyes (C鈥�15). She attended wilderness camp throughout her childhood, and during her senior year of high school she went on a month-long backpacking trip in Montana.

鈥淢y interest in the environment has stemmed from that outdoor background,鈥� Noyes explained. 鈥淚 feel like my best self when I鈥檓 out there.鈥�

But when Noyes first started college, she didn鈥檛 plan to study the environment.

鈥淚 came into Georgetown very dedicated to the idea of majoring in . I even wrote my essay about how I wanted to be a doctor, but when I got here I realized that wasn鈥檛 my passion,鈥� Noyes said.

Noyes, who began working for the as a first-year student, was soon on her way to declaring her major in environmental biology, which she describes as 鈥渁n interesting mixture of hard sciences, policy, and interdisciplinary studies.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 not a soft-science major,鈥� Noyes emphasized. 鈥淭here鈥檚 just more room to be creative in learning about science, sustainability, and communicating what you know.鈥�

Noyes also added a minor in , through which she鈥檚 learned 鈥渉ow to think about science not just in lab and the field, but what it means for the general population.鈥�

One of the things Noyes enjoys most about her studies is that she applies them to other facets of her life. As a member of , she has the chance to support initiatives like this month鈥檚 Kill the Cup University Challenge, part of a nationwide effort to promote sustainability.

Featuring 10 universities, the challenge invites students, faculty, and staff to help reduce waste produced by disposable coffee cups. The schools that make the greatest strides in environmental awareness can win $5,000 to fund their own social impact projects. Noyes serves as an ambassador for Georgetown鈥檚 team.

One of her most transformative experiences took place last year when Noyes studied abroad near Queensland, Australia, where she conducted research on the economics of ecotourism. Noyes and her fellow researchers interviewed more than 200 tourists from all over the world who had visited free World Heritage Sites in Australia. Noyes focused on how the tourists鈥� feelings about the sites would change if an entrance fee was required.

鈥淲hat I found was that most domestic travelers would not want to pay an additional fee, whereas those who traveled from abroad were much more willing to pay upwards of $10,鈥� Noyes said.

After more research and analysis, Noyes proposed that the government implement a $5 fee and try to increase interest domestic travel.

Due to the remote location in Australia, Noyes was largely disconnected from her life back in the United States鈥攊ncluding social media and the Internet. But the change was something she embraced and looked forward to.

鈥淚 wanted to be sure I was completely immersed in my experience,鈥� she explained.

Feeling inspired after her stint abroad, Noyes interned at the this past summer in Washington, DC. There, she saw firsthand how a grassroots ethos can impact policy and legislation through her work with programs like the (LWCF).

LWCF helps protect natural resources and lands by providing funds to federal, state, and local governments. Subject to appropriations each year, LWCF must be continuously reviewed鈥擭oyes鈥� work focused on examining fund recipients in specific districts and what they were able to accomplish through LWCF support.

鈥淚 loved working at the Wilderness Society,鈥� Noyes said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what has really pushed me into pursuing environmental nonprofits as a career path. I鈥檓 really interested in the grassroots angle.鈥�

But four years ago, if you鈥檇 asked Noyes what she wanted to do with her life, she probably wouldn鈥檛 have mentioned an interest in the environment.

鈥淲hen I came to Georgetown,鈥� she explained, 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 think that I could turn my love of the outdoors into an actual career. But when I learned about the environmental biology major during my sophomore year, I realized it was possible to have this as my passion and my career.鈥�

Noyes plans to continue to build on this passion no matter where life takes her鈥攅specially in a field that鈥檚 continually evolving.

鈥淲hat鈥檚 challenging is that people are still really unaware [of many issues],鈥� Noyes said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not that they wouldn鈥檛 care if they knew; they just haven鈥檛 been exposed. But it鈥檚 the little things that make a difference. What you do as an individual does matter鈥攜ou can make a difference.鈥�

Related Information

Learn more about the Kill the Cup University Challenge and help win $5,000 to support social initiatives.