Nathan Thanki

Belfast, Northern Ireland

 What classes have you taken at COA?  

Human Ecology Core Course

The Age of Reason and Enlightenment 

Climate Justice 

Global Environmental Politics 

Climate System Dynamics 

Advanced Composition 

Intermediate French 

Physics and Math of Sustainable Energy 

Economic Development: Theory and Practice

Tutorial: Possible Future Paradigms 

Methods of Teaching Writing Across the Curriculum

Practicum in Photovoltaic Solar Energy

Egypt: Political History and Modernization

Tutorial: Advanced Climate Policy

Graphic Design Studio I / Visual Communication

Refugee Studies

Financial Times: Crisis in Ireland, Europe and the World

Hatchery: "Earth in Brackets"

Tutorial: The Road to Rio+20

Tutorial: Advanced International Environmental Law

Practicum in Environmental Diplomacy

Advanced Seminar in Ecological Economics

What has been your favorite class at COA? Why?

I really enjoy Doreen's classes on environmental politics (which might explain why I've taken so many of them!), but I thought that Dave's Physics and Math of sustainable energy was a great class because it made me engage numbers in a way that I would usually be too intimidated to do. 

What was your favorite project at COA? Why?

Earth in Brackets is the most rewarding thing I've been involved in at COA. We take our interest in politics and international relations of sustainability out of the classroom and actually apply it "in the field" at various UN negotiations. We're environmental activists, but can't really be pigeon-holed as such. You should read about us at www.earthinbrackets.org, or find us on twitter/facebook. I get a kick out of directly and joyfully challenging existing power structures. 

What is your dream occupation?

The permanent occupation of Wall St. 

Do you work on or off campus? If yes, where?

I earn my keep at COA by being a writing tutor. I've also been a painter, a Resident Advisor and have been known to provide guided tours of COA. 

What do you see yourself doing after COA?

Human Ecology? I left my crystal ball at home today...

What country or state would you like to visit?

I would like to visit Iraq.

What is happiness to you?

Croissants in bed. 

Have you had an internship? 

With the Third World Network in Beijing and Kuala Lumpur from June-August 2012. I was a research assistant, looking into finance for adaptation to climate change as well as various regional climate change research centres. My time in S.E. Asia overlapped with a meeting in Bangkok to establish the Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice.

What are your ideas for your senior project? If you have already done one, what did you do?

Re-make Jurassic Park, with puppets.

Where are you from?

I'm from all over. I have 3 passports, have lived in 6 countries and am half Gujarati as well as half Irish, but I was raised  mostly in Belfast, Northern Ireland. 

What do you like to do when you’re not doing school work?

Play football, play pool, drink tea, watch films, start and drop grand projects, try and take over the world...the lines between work and not-work are getting blurrier by the day, though.

What is your favorite color?

Black is the most interesting by far.