Introduction: 

Urban Environmental Encounters is featuring the joint departmental senior capstone class of students from the Environmental and Urban Studies programs including BA students from Lang College, BA and BS students from SPE’s Bachelors Program for Adult and Transfer Students, and dual degree students pursuing BA/BFA degrees at Lang and Parsons. 

This confluence of young activists, designers, social anthropologists, creators, and deep philosophical thinkers created a wonderfully rich arena ground for interrogative, boundary-pushing research projects on topics ranging from study of key infrastructural systems like electric grids and waste to climate disaster recovery to improving the sustainability of food systems to greening death practices to examining social structures tied to gender, class, and race.  The students have considered how public policy effects  food waste and insecurity, gentrification, urban environmental conditions, social stratification, access to sustainable materials, and, more broadly, how we live and can hope to live in the future. 

Throughout the year, this group of young scholars has asked and answered hard questions, supported each other’s work, pivoted and reoriented when inevitable research challenges emerged, and been ceaselessly innovative and full of humor. 

New York City embodies stark contrasts: a beacon of opportunity yet a landscape of inequality. The city's development has been characterized not merely by commercial growth and revitalization but also by the systematic erasure of marginalized communities, their histories, and their contributions. This narrative of urban "progress" frequently obscures the exploitative methods through which institutions accumulate capital.

This zine investigates the histories and reclamation efforts of artists, institutions, and communities across three NYC sites: San Juan Hill, Seneca Village, and the Domino Sugar Factory. Each location evokes profound emotional responses as we reflect on its heritage. These sites were centers where people lived, gathered, and worked. 

Urban renewal prioritizes economic development over existing residents' needs, highlighting the inequitable relationship between capital accumulation and social equity. The displacement of communities and resulting social instability represent direct consequences of such renewal policies. By understanding these processes of erasure and reclamation, we can gain insight into spatial politics and the preservation of urban memory in a city that continues to transform while grappling with questions of who belongs and whose stories deserve to be remembered.

Science and art are both grounded in curiosity, they share similar motives but differ in methodology and execution. We are in a climate emergency. However our current solutions only scratch the surface of the work that needs to be done. With the rise of green capitalism, how do we reinstill a deep care for our environment to invigorate radical action? We have the science, we have the innovation, so what is our struggle to act? This paper calls on non empirical, observational qualitative research as well as semi-structured interviews to express how separated our current thinking is and more importantly the possibilities for social change through working together, merging topics, and doing cross disciplinary creative expression projects. I worked with nonprofits, activist groups, and attended conferences at the forefront of this topic to identify the ways in which we can reframe our relationships, collaboratively, through art.  

Jac Clayton

8.2 Billion Stones: Education as Collective Power Facing Climate Futures

8.2 Billion Stones is a short documentary exploring the disconnect between public perception, policy, and the reality of climate education in the United States. Grounded in the question “What do we do now?”, the film uplifts voices of public school teachers, student activists, and climate professionals working beyond traditional systems—across museums, nonprofits, and community organizations. Together, they outline best practices for teaching climate as a localized, tangible issue connected to broader ecological systems. Rather than treating climate change as a divisive political topic, 8.2 Billion Stones reframes it as an educational imperative—calling for interdisciplinary, justice-centered approaches that equip youth with both knowledge and agency, that affirm each student’s capability and capacity. Through highlighting resistance, innovation, and hope, the film envisions classrooms as catalysts for change, where students become informed, action-oriented problem solvers. In the face of misinformation, doomism, and systemic barriers, this short documentary asserts that climate literacy must be embedded across all sectors, nurturing intergenerational dialogue and sustainable futures from the ground up. 

Over the past decade, rising sea surface temperatures have significantly reshaped the migratory behaviors of marine species in the Eastern Pacific. This thesis investigates how climate-driven oceanographic changes—particularly intensified marine heatwaves and ENSO variability—are altering the spatial and temporal patterns of two representative species: the Eastern Pacific Green Turtle and the Bull Shark. Drawing on NOAA satellite datasets, peer-reviewed climate research, and field observations collected in El Paredón, Guatemala, the study reveals that migration corridors are becoming increasingly fragmented, unpredictable, and decoupled from historical environmental cues.

The research adopts a mixed-methods approach that integrates geospatial data analysis, semi-structured interviews with local fishermen, and a sensory-driven visualization built using TouchDesigner.  These methods illuminate both the scientific and lived dimensions of marine migration, foregrounding the ecological, economic, and cultural consequences of disrupted movement. The findings suggest that conservation frameworks must shift toward dynamic, adaptive strategies that can respond to migration’s spatial fluidity and temporal uncertainty. Ultimately, this study reframes migration patterns not only as biological phenomena but as ecological signals that map the broader transformations of marine life under climate change.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed typical migration patterns across the United States, triggering an influx of New York City residents into Connecticut. Connecticut has been experiencing a broadening wealth inequality gap, and with these new residents, it has only been intensified. While revitalizing some urban areas, other issues have arisen, such as housing affordability, cost of living, and displacement of longtime residents. This essay explores the socioeconomic impacts of post-pandemic migration into Connecticut from New York City, as affordability haunts native residents. This paper uses quantitative data, interviews, and case studies to show that migration patterns influence economic development. Discussing exacerbated challenges in Connecticut and presenting policy recommendations to ensure equitable urban growth. 

In today’s world, it is faster and easier than ever for a design to translate from sketch to garment on an industrial scale. New developments in vegan materials, organic textiles, and digital breakthroughs are sold to consumers and designers as exciting new “solutions” to fashion’s sustainability crisis. But this idolization of newness, rather than bringing on an era of responsible production, seems to have done little to derail fashion’s devastating environmental impact. 

Many emerging designers may feel completely overwhelmed, not knowing which issues to realistically direct their individual time and resources in a way that could actually make a difference. The Fashion Designer’s Zero-Waste Handbook aims to bridge this gap. Drawing from historical zero-waste patternmaking techniques, this resource helps to initiate not just a shift in methodology, but a shift in mindset and return to pre-capitalist modes of intrinsically sustainable production.

Since before the turn of the century, security has been on the forefront of American peoples minds. From national security, to anti immigration policy, to local and city level surveillance, security is embedded into the fabric of urban society. The way we interact with our environments, both the natural and the built environment, is directly related to our perception of safety. How we design our spaces is a visual reflection of how we feel. With my project, I intended to analyze what about a space makes people feel safe, and how urban planning policy can reproduce safety concerns, aid them, or exclude people. 

Katherine Hong

Dedicated Follower of Fashion: 1960s &1970s Vintage Fashion & Eco-Consciousness

Dedicated Follower of Fashion is a love letter to the visual and sonic culture of the 1960s and 1970s. As consumers reckon with the fashion industry’s hand in environmental detriment, a rallying movement to buy secondhand clothing has galvanized. Examining the intersection between vintage fashion and environmentalism, this zine patches the holes in existing research by looking at the vintage market specifically, because while all vintage is secondhand, not all secondhand is vintage. Using the modern vintage dresser as a model, this research considers: How can consumers be eco-conscious and maintain personal style and self expression? 

Based on the mutual love of 1960s and 1970s culture, modern vintage dressers have created a community. With a desire to honor these stories, memories, and relationships, this research was conducted in a collaborative effort. Through conversations with fellow vintage enthusiasts, Dedicated Follower of Fashion weaves vintage fashion, sustainability, and subculture into one narrative, to confront the rapidly progressing fashion industry by going back in time to pull from history.

Heart disease and cancer are the leading causes of death in Black communities—conditions closely linked to high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and unhealthy diets (CDC). These health disparities are further exacerbated by the prevalence of food deserts, the dominance of processed foods containing animal products, and the legacy of systemic inequality in historically marginalized neighborhoods.

My senior thesis project—a zine—explores the accessibility of plant-based foods in Oakland, California. Drawing from my personal experience growing up in various Oakland neighborhoods and transitioning to a plant-based lifestyle, I noticed a clear connection between food access and racial segregation. This observation inspired me to investigate the current state of food availability in Oakland by comparing grocery costs and product selection across different areas.Guiding questions in my research included: What foods are available across Oakland’s diverse communities, and where do disparities exist? How do the overabundance of animal products and processed foods contribute to chronic health issues in Black and Brown populations? My project concludes with community-based responses to these challenges, spotlighting testimonials and stories from Black-owned vegan businesses as they promote plant-based eating as a step toward health equity and food justice in Oakland.

Cities are perhaps the most tangible reflection of a society’s history, serving as living witnesses to the past. At the same time, both societies and cities are changing faster than ever, with cultural shifts showing up in our social lives, technology, and the arts. Buildings and their architectural designs are a constant part of our daily environment, shaping how we experience the city in many ways. Yet, even though we are always surrounded by these structures, it’s worth asking: what kind of relationship do we really have with them, and what do they mean to us?

In Brussels, the aftermath of post-war urban development led to the term “Brusselization”, which criticizes the random and often chaotic changes that created sharp contrasts in the city’s architecture. While the context has evolved, this issue still lingers today, with every major new development sparking public debate and tense conflict between residents and decision-makers. Through this research, I hope to better understand, in the context of Brussels, the role architecture plays in shaping urban identity and how it influences the way people connect with their city.

The mulberry tree, the only food source for the silkworm, has an incredible history that spans millennia. Silk worms were first discovered to produce silk in 3,600 BC in China, and were traded through Asia, Europe, and Eastern Africa on the Silk Road. Two Christian monks then stole the silkworm from China and gifted it to Justinian I, and a silk industry began to boom through France, Italy, and Spain. In the 1600s, King James I wanted to develop England’s silk industry by planting thousands of mulberry trees. When this industry failed due to weather, he sent thousands of trees to America, where he believed the industry would flourish. 

It is the story of the mulberry tree in America that I am most interested in, a story that explores colonization, land ownership and wealth, war and violence, labor rights, sustainability, ethics, governance, ‘invasiveness’ and even health. In this collection of short stories, I grapple with the key question: how can the human relationship with the environment be represented by the mulberry tree? Through examining this remarkable tree’s journey to America, we can begin to understand our relationship to resources, commodities, and culture. 

Food charities are the main solution cities propose to combat food insecurity, and New York City is no exception. Frontline Against Hunger focuses on a hot meal program in an East Harlem pantry to consider the successes and challenges in these programs. Documented over the course of two months as a volunteer, ethnographic field notes were recorded on day-to-day operations, different strategies to combat hunger, and the motivations, opinions, and experiences of volunteers and workers. This project highlights the behind the scenes of a food charity program, giving insight into the community of participants, the benefits and drawbacks of volunteering, and the greater social benefits offered by a reliable service. 

This research culminates in a book that contextualizes the history of NYC’s anti-hunger programs, with field notes detailing personal volunteer experience, and an interview with a chef in the organization. Maps, illustrations and diagrams, informational pamphlets detailing volunteer etiquette, and guides on cooking for large groups of people are included as supporting material.

In this paper I look into research on field recording, through sound studies, acoustic ecology, ecoacoustics, soundscape ecology, ethnomusicology, and the colonial roots of the practice. Going into concepts including; ‘self-reflexive narrative’, sonic-travel, auditory maps, and ‘noisy nonself’. I highlight key developments in ecoacoustics, sound studies, and acoustic ecology, focusing on the methodologies, technologies, and interdisciplinary approaches that shape the field. Exploring the contributions of both scientists and artists in capturing natural and urban soundscapes, addressing the challenges of balancing objective data collection with the subjective experience of sound. I also aim to emphasize the significance of field recordings in preserving auditory environments and advancing our understanding of the relationship between sound, place, and human experience. Through this I ask the questions: What exactly is a field recording and what are its pedagogical potentials? What is the field? What is the role of the recordist? Does field recording trigger a muscle memory that comprehends nature as a resource? Do contemporary collections of sound reinforce objectifying practices? How does sound create place? 

The shape of urban subculture, though always evolving, is being molded by algorithm fed discourse and aesthetics, cultural globalization and homogenization, mainstream commercialization, gentrification and a loss of third spaces. My research explores this within the intersection of electronic dance music scenes and queer nightlife. With the backdrop being a growing popularity in techno, raving, and club culture, my thesis focuses on the alternative and underground. From free parties, freetekno and sound system culture to DIY punk ethos found on dance floors to collectives organizing to keep rave political. 

My research is presented in two parts. 

A zine; part autoethnographic writing, part travel diary, part personal archive, part pursuit for utopian living outside of capitalism. Told through fieldwork conducted in queer nightclubs, parties at secret locations reclaiming urban space, and raves in forests and fields found through shared location coordinates. Taking place in New York City, Berlin and Czech Republic, threaded together with memory and desire. 

A short screenplay; of a fictionalized night in Bushwick touching on themes of gentrification, nightlife and grassroots activism. 

This project investigates how podcasts can function as effective tools for climate change education. Through a mixed-methods approach combining literature review, podcast production, and audience feedback, this project explores whether narrative audio storytelling can increase climate literacy, counter misinformation, and encourage listener engagement and action. The research centers on one guiding question: Can podcasts be an accessible, engaging, and impactful medium for educating the public about climate change? By producing a pilot episode of an original podcast, Climate Lies, that blends expert insights, peer voices, and myth-busting storytelling, the project tests theoretical claims about audio media’s educational potential. Listener surveys and interviews provide qualitative and quantitative data to assess comprehension, emotional response, and behavioral intention. Ultimately, this project offers insight into the strengths and limitations of podcasts as a climate communication strategy, with implications for educators, content creators, and activists seeking new ways to foster climate awareness and action.

Piermont Marsh is an invaluable brackish tidal marsh located within the Hudson River Estuary in New York. Through a case study approach, the project investigates the ecological history of the marsh, its ongoing environmental threats– including shoreline erosion, increased storm surges and flooding, and the vast presence of the invasive grass species Phragmites australis– and evaluates a range of past, present, and possible future restoration efforts. Combining field observations, interviews with scientists and land managers, and an extensive review of scientific and policy literature, the research highlights the challenges and opportunities involved in ensuring the marsh’s long-term protection, resilience, and ecological function. The study gives special attention to the role of Phragmites which dominates the marsh’s area, its most important ecological services, and the broader implications of community engagement and science-based management in wetland restoration. The study concludes with recommendations for future research, restoration, and stewardship that prioritizes the marsh’s resilience in the face of rising climate pressures. 

The thesis investigates how revitalization efforts in Bangkok and Singapore impact the identity of the place and the sense of place among residents. Through case studies of the Singapore River and the Rattanakosin Island (by Chao Phraya River in Bangkok), the research examines how physical and functional changes how the site is used and perceived under the revitalization efforts. The time frame on the Singapore River’s case spans from the river’s clean-up in 1977 to recent, and research on Rattanakosin Island focuses on the changes made under the 1997 Master Plan. Both cases are looked at under similar categories: the vision of revitalization, changes in physicality of the site, long-standing communities, and how the site is occupied and perceived. The comparison between the two cases reveal top-down, state-led strategies aiming at achieving specific visions. The Singapore River's transformation created a globalized, tourist-friendly destination with a Singaporean image, while Rattanakosin Island's projects reinforced its historical and cultural identity tied to the monarchy and Buddhism. Both examples are criticized for their selective historical narrative curated through architectural preservation, while lacking consideration for long-standing residents, local history, and intangible heritage.