Valerie Joco '23 presented her research about the impact of water loss and pollution on Indigenous communities' identity, and highlights two case studies to support her argument.
Access the video of Valerie's Showcase presentation.
Joco writes about how decades of overuse and climate change have exacerbated droughts and water shortages around the world, and Indigenous groups are disproportionately feeling the resulting effects of water insecurity in her article, An Ethical Study of the Impact of Water Insecurity on Identity in Indigenous Communities.
About Valerie Joco
Valerie Joco '23 graduated from Santa Clara University with a double major in political science and philosophy with an emphasis in pre-law, with a minor in environmental studies. Growing up immersed in the natural beauty and communitarian values of the island of O'ahu, Hawai'i nurtured her desire to care deeply for both the planet and its people. She has focused her studies on environmental justice and sustainable development while at Santa Clara. Through this fellowship, she is interested in highlighting how indigenous groups disproportionately face the brunt of the water crisis. She also hopes to find holistic solutions that address the multitude of injustices these groups experience. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, painting, and playing the piano.