Environmental Internship Program - 2022 Booklet

Alex Moosbrugger ’24
CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
Certificate: Geological Engineering
CLIMATE AND
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
PROJECT TITLE
Nature-based Climate
Solutions, Blue Carbon
ORGANIZATION(S)
Environmental Defense
Fund (EDF)
LOCATION(S)
San Francisco, California;
Santa Barbara, California
MENTOR(S)
Rod Fujita, Senior
Scientist and Director,
Research and
Development, Oceans
Program, EDF
I worked with the Environmental Defense Fund
to research and analyze different methods
of seaweed aquaculture. I evaluated these
methods based on adherence to carbon-capture
criteria, scientific rigor, co-benefits provided,
contributions to environmental justice, and nearterm
feasibility. I contributed to a manuscript
(soon to be submitted for publication) on the
potential and readiness of seaweed as a major
contributor to blue carbon, which is carbon
sequestered in marine systems. I also contributed
to an internal comparison study to help my
team create a roadmap for including seaweed
in countries’ blue carbon plans. Additionally, I
researched various specific questions relating
to seaweed blue carbon, such as possible
halocarbon emissions from seaweed, how to
incorporate seaweed into cattle feed to reduce
enteric methane emissions, and investigated the
appetite for seaweed as food. My work involved
collaboration and interviewing experts, and I
learned how to work well in a research-focused
team: asking questions to both learn what I
needed to, taking advantage of the expertise of
my colleagues, and sharing information in the
most helpful and effective ways. Because of this
internship, I anticipate that ocean- and naturebased
climate solutions will play a large role in
my future study and career.
44