Sustainability Journeys: Meet Ana Villamizar

Please share a bit about yourself, what you do for work or study, and when you became interested in sustainability.

Hello Hello! I am Ana Villamizar (she/they) a rising senior in the Environment and Society program with minors in Psych and Urban and Regional planning. I guess my first conscious encounter with sustainability was when I was very small and my mom explained why it is important we throw our trash out in the garbage cans haha, so I started young, but I kept that spirit since, and became truly engulfed with the matter in college (after rethinking my initial psych major though).

Are there any particular areas of sustainability that you are most interested in? Tell us more about those!

I could go on for ages about Biomimicry, which is “innovation inspired by nature.” Innovators that work under this model look at some of our oldest blueprints—plants and animals—and create by understanding how they work. These inventions are some of the most efficient out there. Take a look at Biomimicry.org, or search The Land Institute, and Marjan van Aubel’s Current Window to learn more about the topic, and understand why I geek out about it.

Set the record straight: what’s one common myth or misconception about sustainability that you wish people knew more about?

Sustainability does not only have to do with the animals! There are sustainable models for topics all across the spectrum that can make our human lives more ethical as well (take a look at the circular economy or environmental justice). The baby sea turtles are amazing, and we do it for them too, but there is so much more to the movement than that.

Any tips or tricks for people who are just beginning their sustainability journeys?

Oh boy the biggest thing is to give yourself a break, and start with baby steps you can form into habits, like bringing a tote bag out with you when you leave the house. You can then build on from there. ALSO understand that we live in a society that is not fully sustainable, hence making it hard to be so ourselves. That said, it can be inspiring and exciting to see how you can make a difference in the career you land in to change that narrative. The climate crisis would have a whole different face if we looked at it as an interesting challenge instead of a threat, so be creative, and have fun with that work. 

Sustainable Campus would like to thank Ana for sharing her Sustainability Journey with us. Have an interest or career in sustainability? We'd love to hear from you! Email our Communications Coordinator, Michelle Presley at mpresley2@fsu.edu with the subject line: Sustainability Journeys.