Her Cleantech mentors and peers broadened the way she approaches problems, says Gonzalez, who also conducts research in atmospheric sciences in PSU’s Stable Isotope Lab.The experience revealed connections between her research and the role she can play in preserving a habitable planet, plus the importance of explaining those connections in language that non-scientists can understand. After she graduates this summer, Gonzalez is contemplating a career as a process engineer, helping businesses lessen the negative impacts of climate change by improving their methods. Her Cleantech experience showed her “I don’t have to just be the science person,” she says. “I can look at a business and take something that they’re doing and just make it better. I think if I can do that, I’ll have some peace of mind.” Gonzalez says she will graduate from PSU with a firm understanding of how she personally connects to climate change—and how she can do something about it. “It’s really showed me that you have to approach things more like: What is the human focus, what is the people focus?” she says. “And that’s how I approach most of my work now—reminding myself that this research that I’m doing is for a bigger purpose and always finding those connections, so that what I’m doing can be relevant and make sense.” SAVE A TREE Love Portland State Magazine, but want to remove paper from the picture? Opt out of the print issue and receive the email newsletter instead. It links to online versions of our stories. Scan this code with your smartphone’s camera to go to the preferences form or email psumag@pdx.edu. “Students have this really well-developed understanding of the intrinsic connections between social justice, equity and climate change. That ’s been groundbreaking for us.” Undergraduate Karelly Ramirez Gonzalez helped create an ethanol-based fuel cell capable of efficiently generating renewable energy as part of a team that won PSU’s 2021 Cleantech Challenge. Photo by Juan Barraza. The Student Sustainability Center is the go-to place for students who want to get involved in climate efforts. Staff shown here: Julian Roth, Crystal Vega, Luca Gregston, Serena Dressel and Hal Shervey. Photo by Edis Jurcys. 26 // PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE
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