Salomé Arrieta: Connecting Community and the Environment
Salomé Arrieta is a senior studying environmental science with an emphasis in leadership, sustainability and communications and a minor in climate change and society at the University of Arizona. Growing up in Tucson and spending time playing in the desert, Salomé has always felt a connection to the natural world.
In this Q&A, Salomé discusses how her involvement in environmental and sustainability groups at the U of A has shaped her interests and how local communities can take action on environmental issues. She emphasizes the importance of students forming their own personal relationships with the Earth and remembering to find hope in their communities through the people and local organizations working to create change.
What year are you, what are you studying, and what originally interested you in the environment?
I am a senior in environmental science with an emphasis in leadership, sustainability & communications and a minor in climate change & society. I grew up in Tucson playing in the desert and combing cactus out of my shoes so connecting with the environment has always been super central to my life!
Environmental science has always been something that has kept me curious and excited to learn. I could not feel more lucky that I get to pursue this passion with my degree.
What activities, organizations, or projects have you been involved with at the U of A, and how does being involved in these activities connect to your interests in the environment?
I have had a lot of amazing opportunities to get involved with environmental and sustainability groups at the U of A! My freshman year, I participated in the Bio/Diversity Project, where I got to develop and teach lessons on pollinators for Tucson youth, working in the very same school district I attended!
I have also been working for the Campus Sustainability Fund since 2024, funding and facilitating some truly inspiring sustainability projects on campus. Last year I got to see the addition of 60 new trees to campus!
More recently, I have been involved with Epsilon Eta, a gender inclusive environmental professional fraternity on campus. Epsilon Eta has been an incredible opportunity to connect with my peers while getting our hands dirty through environmental service and outreach! There are truly so many people doing amazing environmental and sustainability work on campus!
Why do you think it’s important for students, even those not studying environmental fields, to care about sustainability and natural resources?
One of the great things about the environment is that it's something that connects to quite literally every human on the planet! Even those who haven't chosen to pursue an environmental degree still have a stake in the future of our Earth.
There are so many ways to get involved because of the intersectionality of environmental issues. Even small actions are significant in sustainability. Now more than ever, it's important for students to be aware of sustainability and form their own relationship with the Earth in order to develop a more resilient future as young people.
How do you think your generation can make the biggest impact on environmental issues?
It can be really easy to feel disillusioned by all the environmental issues that our generation faces today. These issues are colossal and have no perfect solution. The good news is there are some truly incredible people who are fighting for our future.
When looking at these big issues, I think it's important to take a step back and look at the individual communities and organizations that are doing super important work locally. Here in Tucson, we have amazing sustainability organizations like Tucson Clean and Beautiful, Watershed Management Group, Flowers and Bullets, and so much more that interact with and know our community deeply.
Taking action locally is integral to greater change and problem-solving for our Earth. While the condition of our environment can be overwhelming, my peers and community have always motivated me to hope and be excited for our future