Michael Downey's Profile

Michael is currently in his thid year at the University of Virginia. He is pursuing a double major in Anthropology and Environmental Thought and Practice, as well as a minor in Environmental Science. In recognition of his academic achievements during his first year, he was named an Echols Scholar, a prestigious honor limited to approximately five percent of his class. Michael intends to use his studies to assess and evaluate U.S. environmental policy abroad, with a focus on sustainability. He hopes to participate in ethnographic studies of environmental attitudes around the world with the goal of developing environmental policies in a culturally sensitive manner. He is currently involved in research assessing the impact of an engineered storm water management system on water quality and quantity. He works alongside civil engineers, environmental scientists, faculty members, and other undergraduates from departments across the University. Michael is a member of the Phi Eta Sigma honor fraternity and the Science Scholars program, and he has been placed on the Dean's List each semester.