WVU Davis College student ventures abroad to explore environmental science

"As much as I read about and think about environmental policy, I don't have a whole lot of firsthand experience with how it's implemented or the processes that go into it," Talbott said. "I really want to get that experience and be able to bring it back to West Virginia."
Talbott's love of the outdoors has been a part of her for as long as she can remember, but the thing that made her seriously consider a career in natural resources was an overnight program through the University where students collaborated in the field to collect river water samples and conduct experiments.

"I thought, 'this is the coolest thing ever!'" Talbott said. "Environmental science has always been something I'm very passionate about. Growing up in West Virginia, I've been hiking and camping in the area since I was in first grade and just always really felt connected to it."

"My advisor, Jenna Edwards, got me in touch with Vaike Haas from the landscape architecture department, and that's when I discovered it was basically a combination of art and science," Talbott said. "That was the perfect fit to add as a second major because it let me bring in design and other creative elements."

Even before attending WVU, Talbott was able to get hands-on experience abroad at an organic farm through Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF), an international program that promotes agritourism businesses to visitors and volunteers.
After graduating from Elkins High School, Talbott spent some time literally and figuratively "in the weeds" at an organic farm in Italy, working with sheep and helping with the farm's vegetable garden to provide produce for the farm's restaurant.

"I spent two and a half months in Italy working on a farm, and it was the best experience ever," Talbott said. "I highly recommend taking a gap year and doing as many things as you can, because that's what it's for. Working on that farm helped direct me toward soil and water science and also made me want to travel even more."

BOKU's sole focus on environmental science made it an ideal place to spend a semester abroad, and Talbott said she is excited about the idea of spending time with even more like-minded students who are also studying the environment and the things that impact it.
"I'm really excited to see the cultural differences within how they look at forestry and sustainability, and just getting another perspective on that," Talbott said.

Outside the classroom, Talbott is also an active member of several student organizations at WVU, like the Appalachian Advocacy Network and the student Landscape Architecture Association.

-WVU-

sg/02/24/26

CONTACT: Sam Gorski

Content Strategist

WVU Division for Land-Grant Engagement