Hello everyone! I'm from Kingston, Jamaica, and my time at Grinnell College has proven to me that Grinnell's campus really does span the nation...and the world. One highlight of my college experience is having been able to attend over a dozen academic conferences across the United States.
My passion for playing steel drums helped put Grinnell on my list of college options, and the ability to take free music lessons set Grinnell apart from the other universities I was considering. I've since expanded my musical interests to include the harp, which complements my schedule filled with physics, technology, and environmental classes.
"I Want to Be an Engineer"
Coming from high school, I was completely convinced that I wanted to be a biomedical engineer. There was one issue: I didn't like biology. As one can imagine, that was a short-lived thought.
However, I was always interested in energy. My tutorial, "Energy", assisted me in realizing my true passions and prompted a change in my ambitions. Now, I wanted to be a mechanical engineer!
Physics is everywhere: from turbines to bubbles.
Shifting Interests
My interest in policy was sparked by a Directed Research project I completed with history professor Michael Guenther. My research investigated renewable energy, with a focus on solar. As I studied the historical context of energy development, I was appalled to learn how often renewable energy has been pushed aside, despite its vital importance to the world.
During the summer after my second year, I interned at Emera Caribbean Limited, a local electricity company in Barbados. While there, I observed a serious disconnect between the policymakers and the technocrats on the island, which made me realize that the energy sector could be my possible niche.
During my time in Barbados, I realized that I didn't want to get my hands dirty, and I didn't want to actually build anything, either. Instead, I wished to change the present structures to better incentivize energy independence in the Caribbean. I came to the conclusion that maybe engineering programs were not what I was looking for.
After returning to Grinnell, I conducted an Independent Project with Professor Paul Tjossem in physics, which looked at Photovoltaic Characterization. I even attempted to build my own photochemical cell and charge a battery with solar panels.
Queen of Conferences
By the time I graduate, I will have attended a total of 13 conferences across the United States! In addition to the conferences mapped below, I have also attended several virtual conferences through COVID-19, including:
Entrefest 2020
Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum 2020
American Geophysical Union Conference 2020
Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science 2020, where I won a poster award.
Nine of these conferences were funded by Grinnell!
Adventures Around the World
Throughout my time at Grinnell, I was able to embark upon academic adventures in several different places around the world. In addition to my summer internship in Barbados, my studies took me to Central America, Southeast Asia, and Australia!
My Life Otherwise
When I'm not attending academic conferences or pursuing global study, you can catch me playing the harp...
Practicing "Minuet" from Leopold Mozart's Note Book.
or performing in the Percussion and Steel Band Ensemble.
The Steel Band performs "Jamaica Farewell" by Harry Belafonte.
Other than that, I've participated in the International Student Organization Culture Night, as well as Food Bazaar. In my free time, I enjoy taking pictures and baking. I even have a business at home, Akaisiba!
Snapshots from the International Student Organization's Cultural Evening
Post-Grad
After Grinnell, I am now finished with 2 out of the 4 years of my Ph.D program at Princeton University! I'm focusing my research on Public Affairs in STEP, which stands for Science, Technology, and Environment Policy!
Summer after my first year in my PhD program, I landed an internship at the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. In this role, I was tasked with procuring energy data which will be included in their annual Energy Report Card. I worked specifically for my home country, Jamaica, and conducted literature reviews and wide array of interviews for information.
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