About me

I was born and raised in Southern California, but my family originally hails from Singapore.  My interest in "sustainable development" (however you choose to define it) started after taking a required course on atmospheric science for my college.  Initially, I was an economics major but found myself drawn to environmental science; it satisfied a curiousity about how earth and life on it functioned together.  After dabbling in marine policy and ecology (including the major accomplishment of building a ragged meteorological station) I  felt a pull toward atmospheric science, particularly air pollution.  Perhaps it's because urban air pollution, in my opinion, is one example of the difficulties in reconciling the wants of human beings against the necessities for development against the health of the physical environment.  I hope that in the pursuit of my Ph.D. to contribute a tiny part toward achieving "sustainable development" (however you may choose to define it).

On a more personal note, I was also a competitve tennis player in my youth.  After tearing my ACL in high school, I shifted into teaching tennis and focused more on my studies.  In such unexpected turns of luck, I refer to a quote I once saw on a sign in Charleston, South Carolina:   "If at first you don't succeed, redefine success."  I am admittedly faithful to this quote and though it seems like an easy out, I find it useful after one of the many big failures in life likely to occur.  I feel lucky in the sense, I've rarely had to appeal to this quote.

                               
Looking at the University of Nairobi's met station                                    Winning a autographed glass puck signed by Luc Robataille at an                                                                                                                                                                                                        L.A.Kings gamewith my brother and sister