Illinois State graduate student Jaimie Kent recently participated in Lobby Day with the Union of Concerned Scientists in Washington, D.C.

Kent met with the offices of Illinois Congressmen Darin LaHood and Adam Kinzinger as well as Sen. Dick Durbin to speak about the importance of federal funding for climate research. Kent also participated in the People’s Climate March, which drew more than 200,000 attendees. During the events, she also had the opportunity to meet Bill Nye, a board member for the Union of Concerned Scientists.

In addition to attending Lobby Day, Kent recently presented a paper at the Western Political Science Association conference in Vancouver, Canada. Her paper was titled “Reimagining Recognition: The Natural Environment as a Personified Actor and Subject.” She will be graduating this May with her master’s degree in political science.