Dublin Coffman students learn to localize global concerns at environmental symposium

The global COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing, but it is not the only issue of importance that will accompany students of this generation into their adult lives.

Eight students and recent graduates from Dublin Coffman High School addressed such topics Oct. 18-22 at the Global Youth Institute.

The participating were enrolled in the AP environmental science class at Coffman, said the students' teacher, Donna Parker.

"The goal for the class is to look at the impacts man has on earth and its resources, as well as how we can solve the problems we create," Parker said.

The World Food Prize Foundation's Global Youth Institute invites more than 200 exceptional high school students from around the world to participate.

Selected students and their teachers and mentors travel to Des Moines, Iowa, each October to attend a three-day event at which they interact with Nobel Prize and World Food Prize laureates to discuss food security and agricultural issues with international experts, according to Global Youth Institute website, worldfoodprize.org.

However, this year, as in 2020, the usually in-person conference was rendered virtual because of the pandemic.

Students from throughout Ohio participated in the Ohio Youth Institute and virtually presented to panels in April to be chosen at delegates to the Global Youth Institute.

The eight Coffman students, some of whom graduated in 2021 and advanced to colleges and universities and some who are upperclassmen, who participated as delegates were Lydia Benham, Adam Gluck, Nate Johnson, Nathan Kassis, Himani Pattisam, Mackenzie Pritchard, Maddie Rappach and Benjamin Woodmansee.

Kassis is a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh learning about environmental studies and policy.

Kassis wrote a thesis on drought in Malawi in eastern Africa and presented potential solutions that included international financial aid and the distribution of drought-resistant crops to farmers.

“My research blended well with the discussions of agriculture and soil conditions (during) the conference” that included presentations by students and experts, he said.

The conference broadly addressed global environmental issues through such topics as drought, water scarcity, malnutrition and food security, Kassis said.

Kassis said participation in the conference deepened his understanding of the crisis and further inspired his study of environmental law and a desire to address the challenges in the United States.

Pritchard, a senior at Coffman, tackled water quality and distribution problems in Cambodia at the symposium.

Pritchard said she was disappointed the symposium was required to be virtual but “the different presentations and opportunities to speak to professionals on environmental topics was very rewarding.”

In Dublin, she said, she will strive to decrease the waste she creates by purchasing products from more sustainable companies and sources.

“When I’m in college, it could be interesting to continue studying the water-quality issues in Cambodia if I choose to go into an environmental science field,” Pritchard said.

Johnson, a Coffman senior, wrote about the impact of rising sea levels on the small South Pacific island country of Tuvalu.

“The salinity of encroaching water is creating unsuitable soil conditions for crop growth, while climate change propelled cyclones and storm surges are killing fish populations in surrounding coral reefs,” Johnson said.

Fish and crop harvests, once major food sources, are being reduced, forcing the island’s natives to rely on nonperishable and imported packaged food, he said.

Johnson’s proposed solutions included a marine reserve to revitalize fish populations and "agroforestry" techniques, plating weaker crops next to stronger ones to help them anchor better in the soil.

He presented to Dr. Rattan Lal, the winner of the 2020 Global Food Prize and a professor of soil science at the Ohio State University.

Johnson said participation in the symposium instilled “a heightened awareness of my personal consumption of foods, fossil fuels and common resource,” of which he is mindful going forward.

“I want to prioritize sustainable practices from day one in the large and small organizations I might one day get be a part of,” Johnson said.

Benham, a junior at Coffman, said the experience exceeded her expectations.

"It was really fascinating to have a chance to listen to my peers discuss their views on what we could do ensure food security around the world," Benham said.

Woodmansee, a senior at Coffman, presented on the impacts of the civil war in Sierra Leone and said it was memorable to collaborate with international students.

The conference "was absolutely amazing," he said.

"In my group alone, there were people from the Philippines, two people from China and a (student) from the Czech Republic. ... It was so cool to hear from all of these different people," Woodmansee said.

kcorvo@thisweeknews.com

@ThisWeekCorvo

This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Dublin Coffman students learn to localize global concerns at environmental symposium