MESM 2021
Bio
Minnie Ringland graduated from Yale University in 2016 with a degree in biology. Initially interested in pursuing a career in academic research, she now comes to Bren to prepare for a role as a facilitator between scientists, policymakers, and the public. While at Yale, Minnie worked with graduate students from the schools of forestry, public health, and law to organize a symposium on sustainable food systems. The conference brought together scientists, farmers, activists, and government officials from across the country, and she was inspired to see the partnerships and projects borne from this meeting of different actors. Conversely, she has witnessed a breakdown in communication between businesses and regulators in her position since graduation, working for a small chemical manufacturer on environmental regulatory compliance. At Bren, Minnie will be specializing in economics and politics to learn more about existing systems for regulation and management, and to investigate approaches to effective policy implementation. She hopes that tying in a focus on strategic communication will further enable her to bridge the gaps she has experienced between people who study or experience a problem, and those who govern or manage it.