A leader for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District told students that if they want to work in positions related to the environment, they need to develop a diverse range of skills for the 21st century.
“Be open to developing your skills in alternate areas, because that’s what’s going to make you unique,” said Dr. Philip Fine to a crowd of 35 students at the school’s library in a Jan. 17 event sponsored by Green Team. “That’s what’s going to make you more employable and more well rounded.”
Fine attended the University of California Berkeley on a scholarship and graduated with a mechanical engineering degree. He worked briefly as an environmental consultant before pursuing a master’s and PhD in air quality research at Caltech. He then moved to University of Southern California (USC) as a research assistant professor for four years before becoming Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Principal Deputy Associate Administrator for policy for two years. Fine detailed how his career path went from mechanical engineering to air quality research.
The Green Team wanted to bring in a speaker to inspire students on subjects related to the environment. Last summer, guidance counselor Brian Safine, who was elementary school friends with Fine, suggested Green Team head outreach senior Grace Liu reach out to him because of his position in the air management district.
“I really liked what I learned from him, especially his emphasis on having a diverse skill set that nobody else would have,” Liu said. “So I thought it would be a good idea to introduce his passions to our school.”
At the beginning of the school year, Liu reached out to Fine and invited him to the school, hoping he could spread awareness about the environment and also give students advice.
In the lecture, Fine gave an overview of air districts in California. California has the worst air quality in the country, primarily due to Southern California and the Central Valley, with issues in the Bay Area as well. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District covers nine counties, employs about 500 people, and regulates 7,000 businesses. After explaining the importance of the air districts, Fine transitioned to his career journey. His journey emphasized the importance of combining skills, which he wanted to overlay to the students. In the presentation, he advised developing a combination of skills to stand out in a competitive job market.
At the end of the speaker event, Fine opened the floor for questions, addressing topics such as the largest sources of emissions in the Bay Area and ended with advice for students who are about to enter college.
He focused on the importance of enjoying the undergraduate experience and not getting too caught up in the prestige of the institution, as years into the future, undergraduate schools will not be the emphasis of one’s accomplishments. This discussion encouraged students to broaden their horizons, pursue their genuine interests and consider less traditional educational paths.
“People get focused on their top schools or top 3 schools, but it doesn’t matter that much,” Fine said. “Go to a place where you can enjoy yourself. Go to a place that has a decent reputation but it doesn’t have to be top.”
