Jackie K. (Chintan Environmental research and Action Group): Jackie grew up on the Canadian prairies in Winnipeg, Manitoba where she became deeply interested in the impact of environmental change on marginalized peoples. She graduated in 2007 from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Environmental Science (First Class Honours) and a University Gold Medal as the highest achieving graduate in her faculty. While completing this degree, Jackie worked in the University of Manitoba’s Environmental Conservation Lab, helping research on the social impacts of mad cow disease and other ecological challenges. In the fall of 2007, Jackie began a Law degree at the University of British Columbia where she worked with Dr. Natasha Affolder, researching biodiversity and mining. While at UBC Law, Jackie was the Co-Chair of UBC’s Environmental Law Group and co-coordinator of the Public Interest Law Society.
Upon finishing my undergraduate degree and entering law school, international work has landed in my lap. Increasingly I am asked to work on international environmental law projects and to present my viewpoints on the impacts of this law on sustainable development around the world. However, having never worked in a ‘developing’ country I feel uncomfortable adding my perspective into the international environmental law dialogue. Thus, I have signed on to intern in India, and look forward to learning form the people at Chintan and the other AP fellows about how treaty law plays out in practice in New Delhi.