Ms Yuting Zhou is an early-career environmental advisor working on industrial wastewater pollution management, In her work, she's learning about an important type of environmental pollution, and finding ways to help companies manage water resources better.
When we asked Yuting how old she was when she got interested in environmental problems, we were surprised by her response. "I must have been about six years old. I used to watch an American TV series about an environmentalist Superhero named Captain Planet. "
There is one serious pollution event somewhere in the world. The concern about environmental issues deeply influenced Yuting. But how does one prepare to be a "Superwoman"? For Yuting, it came down to a reflection on what she might be good at — in her case, the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects-and making considered choices in her education.
She began to study environmental engineering, and found a passion for the subject. "During my graduate studies. " I researched different kinds of health effects.
While she developed valuable skills that would help her in her career, she also learnt more about herself and her role in the world. "I learnt that science requires a scientific proof through repeated and sometimes long processes. Although I completed and published my research in a top academic journal, I realized that I'm not fit for laboratory work. I needed more interaction with people, and to solve real-life problems. "
Within three days of graduating, Yuting was on a plane heading to Kenya. She was excited about working for the United Nations because there were people from various industries and backgrounds gathering to improve the environment and create a more sustainable (可持续的) future — a lot like the setting of Caprain Planetwhich brought light to her in the first place.