Edgar Kevorkian

What are your majors? Honors Mathematics Program majoring in mathematics, with a certificate in environmental studies

Expected graduation: May 2022

What inspired your interest in the environment and/or community? I view the environment as a part of the community in which we all want to grow and flourish. For me, the environment is more than a place of trees, rivers, or mountains. Rather, it is a dynamic and complex organism without which human species cannot survive.

My love and passion for the environment developed in an unusual and extraordinary way. First, I enjoy learning patterns, and pattern recognition is fundamental to studying mathematics. Second, the environment constantly gives birth to a variety of patterns, some of which we may know, and some we may not. In other words, I began to value the significance of the environment through the language of mathematics. I believe it is mathematics that brought me nearer to the wonders of nature.

Since then, I developed my interest in learning about the environment such that I may better understand its strengths and weaknesses. I also realized that the basic knowledge of the environment is key to everyone in the world. The better we are educated about our planet as a single, global community, the faster we can confront the environmental challenges and offer sustainable solutions for all. Up to date, I strongly believe that the unity in the knowledge of the environment can make us better and caring citizens of the world.

What would you say (or do you say) to other students about CESP and the Nelson Institute? The CESP is an amazing program for those who seek to develop their leadership strategies, hone their communication and interpersonal skills, and deepen their knowledge in the social perspective of the environmental studies. The CESP has helped me to connect to a group of amazing people with whom I have worked on several projects regarding the environment.

Something few people know about you: I have published one research article about algebraic topology.

Something else about you? I work with another CESP member on a road salt community project for Marathon County (Wausau) to gather data and find environmental-friendly solutions to the spreading of road salt.