Andres is a fourth-year student at the University of California, Los Angeles where he’ll his degree in Environmental Science. Throughout college, he has conducted environmental research that aims to understand the broad challenges society faces in a transition towards a more sustainable future. His research experience includes examining compliance with university policy prohibiting single-use plastics at on-campus events in addition to research studying how median household earnings influence the diversity and abundance of pollinating species across Los Angeles’ parks.
Andres credits his research interests to the growing frustration people feel with inequities in sustainable development. During a discussion for class one day, a peer highlighted that the reason environmentally-friendly milk alternatives like almond, soy, and oat have a $1 upcharge at coffee shops is because they do not receive heavy subsidies from federal and state programs like traditional dairy does. To truly advance sustainable development, Andres believes everyone must have the opportunity to engage with environmentally-friendly alternatives with little to no barriers.