Elaine Hsiao JD '09, LLM '10
Elaine Hsiao (JD ’09, LLM ’10) always envisioned herself as an environmental conservationist rather than an attorney. But after being involved in environmental activist groups, Hsiao determined that the greatest obstacle to achieving tangible change was in the form of legal roadblocks. This prompted her to attend Pace Law School and pursue a degree in environmental law.
During her first year at Pace Law, Hsiao approached Professor Gayl Westerman about summer internship opportunities abroad in which she could make a difference in the environment. At the time, Hsiao was flirting with the idea of peace parks—trans-boarder conservation areas developed to protect biological diversity (natural and cultural resource), while promoting peace and cooperation—which prompted Professor Westerman to suggest exploring opportunities with the UN University for Peace. This led to Hsiao spending her summer in Costa Rica working with the UN to establish a peace park in the post-conflict mountain forests between Nicaragua and Honduras, an experience she thoroughly enjoyed. “If it involves peace and parks, I like it,” says Hsiao.
After returning home from Costa Rica, Hsiao worked with Professor Nicholas Robinson to draft a resolution for the establishment of peace park between Nicaragua and Honduras, which was ultimately adopted by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) 4th World Conservation Congress.
Hsiao is now in Uganda on a Fulbright Scholarship, the most prestigious scholarship offered by the U.S government. At the conclusion of nine months of field research, Hsiao has written an article and given numerous presentations outlining her findings on the prospect of a trans-boundary conservation area in the border region between Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In her final days in Uganda, Hsiao helped filmed a series of interviews that is currently being arranged as a documentary of her work with peace parks.
Hsiao credits Professors Westerman and Robinson, whom she says have been incredibly valuable advisors throughout all her work.
Hsiao plans to remain in Uganda through early August. In September, she will begin a PhD program at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver with a full Four-Year Fellowship, continuing her work with peace parks.