Mehak Sangani, Class of 2022, a biology major, is quickly developing a deeper awareness of how conservation intersects with seemingly unrelated fields like economics, law, and policy.
“NYUAD helped me be more conscious of these interactions and be able to navigate them,” says. “For me to effectively bring about change, I need to understand underlying concepts. There are aspects of social justice that need to come into climate justice,” for example.
Sangani’s goal is to create positive change for the environment, particularly on the coasts of Sri Lanka, her home country. She is currently an Erasmus Mundus scholar earning her International Master of Science in Marine Biological Resources at University of Algarve, Portugal; University of Ghent, Belgium; and Marche Polytechnic University, Italy.
Major: Biology
Home Country: Sri Lanka
Current: International Master of Science in Marine Biological Resources (IMBRSea) in Portugal, Belgium, and Italy
The program is similar to NYUAD in its multi-perspective, global approach to learning, which puts Sangani ahead of the curve. For the next two years she will be required to move multiple times, from country to country, learning new languages along the way.
“If not for my NYUAD degree I don’t know how comfortable I would be doing this kind of program. NYUAD taught me to be open to experiences and opportunities.”
If not for my NYUAD degree I don’t know how comfortable I would be doing this kind of program. NYUAD taught me to be open to experiences and opportunities
“So what if it’s difficult and pushes me out of my comfort zone?” she says with confidence. “NYUAD gave me a little taste of that, not just in terms of traveling, study away, and J-Terms but also being exposed to different cultures.”