Jen Herne

Background

About Jen Herne

My research interests revolve around the evolution of global environmental regimes and the growing importance of non-state actors, such as non-governmental organizations and civil society and their role in global governance and environmental policy reform. I am also interested in the political economy of development and the complex relationships between politics and natural resources, including the impacts of conflicts arising out of these relationships. I have an extensive research background in many of these areas, however my focus has been on water related issues including the development of water systems. I have participated in a variety of projects related to issues of environmental and resource governance at multiple scales on topics including water security, water allocation, adaptation to climate change, well water stewardship and most recently, the use of microcredit as a means to improve fresh water networks. My passion for world affairs has led me to become an extremely involved and dedicated student, participating in a diverse range of academic and extracurricular activities. I place great value on bridging the gap between academia and the practical application of such pursuits within a real-life context. For this reason, I felt it was imperative for me to gain work experience abroad. Upon completing the first two years of my program, I spent three years working and studying overseas in Taichung, Taiwan, Rome, Italy, and Buenos Aires, Argentina. During this time I was able to travel extensively, study Italian, Spanish and Chinese languages, and gain a broader perspective of the social and cultural fabric existing between different societies. This was an extremely formative period of my life out of which a burgeoning interest in the stark contrast between differing political climates was born.