Joongeun Choi

Hi! I am Joongeun Choi, a first-generation immigrant from South Korea, and a first-year Environmental Engineering Science major with a minor in Public Policy. I am committed to helping communities adopt sustainable practices and adapt to the growing intensity of environmental problems by applying a holistic approach to problem-solving. I am especially interested in how technology, grassroots activism, and public policy can work harmoniously to generate amplified impact.

My passion for sustainability stems in part from my grandparents, who lived through the scarcity following the Korean War and instilled in me the importance of conserving resources. That passion became my mission after I awakened to the gravity of the environmental crisis during my stay near Indonesia’s capital, where I learned that the city–home to over 40 million people–would be relocated due to rising sea levels.

Since then, I have pursued various ways to drive change–technologically and systemically–conducting climate change misinformation research at MIT, interning as a software developer for a carbon capture company, serving on my hometown's Climate Action Advisory Committee, and spearheading a composting program at my high school. Having been selected as an Environmental Fellow for Spring 2026, I am excited to continue advancing sustainability on Berkeley's campus and beyond.