Sustainability on Tap Series

Eve Hinckley: Biogeochemist and lead of the Environmental Biogeochemistry Group, Eve-Lyn studies how human activity alters the fundamental processes of life on Earth. From California croplands to the peaks of Patagonia, her team uses isotope geochemistry and data analysis to track the health of fragile ecosystems. She is also a dedicated advocate for diversifying STEM education and mentoring undergraduate researchers.

Danielle Beatty: A graduate researcher in the Living Materials Laboratory, Danielle focuses on using microorganisms to grow sustainable, biologically derived building materials. Her work aims to reduce the environmental footprint of the construction industry by reimagining materials design—from raw sourcing to end-of-life reuse.

Isaiah Lyons-Galante: A PhD student in Environmental Studies at CU Boulder. He develops geospatial machine learning and remote sensing methods to track poverty and inequality in data-scarce regions, focusing on scaling research for real-world impact.

Dr. Srinivas Parinandi: An Associate Professor of Political Science at CU Boulder. He specializes in how institutional design and regulation influence energy and economic policy, utilizing spatial econometric modeling to study policy diffusion across U.S. states.

Carmen Pacheco: A former petroleum engineer turned entrepreneur, Carmen applies engineering to the science of specialty foods such as chocolate. Her work focuses on sustainable supply chains and the "Design of Coffee." 

Jeffrey York: An expert in "environmental entrepreneurship," Jeff researches how new ventures can simultaneously create economic value and solve ecological challenges.

Dr. Eldy Lázaro: A designer, Postdoctoral Researcher at IO Lab at the University of California Davis, and Research Affiliate at CU Boulder’s ATLAS Institute. Eldy explores the intersection of biodesign and technology, specifically researching the intersection of biomaterials, smart textiles and tangible interfaces. 

Dr. Virginia Iglesias: A research scientist at Earth Lab. Virginia focuses on the "big picture" of environmental change, specifically how climate variability impacts our social and environmental systems.

Our inaugural event featured Sarah Gonzalez Coffin, a graduate student in Social Psychology in CU Boulder’s Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, alongside Erin Espelie, Associate Professor of Cinema Studies & Moving Image Arts at CU Boulder and SRI advisor. 

Sarah Gonzalez Coffin studies how perceptions of naturalness, risk and familiarity shape public support for sustainable technologies. Her work aims to better understand psychological barriers to climate action and to inform policymakers, innovators and communicators. 

Erin Espelie is a writer, editor, and filmmaker whose work intersects environmental research, science, and culture. She co-directs CU Boulder’s NEST Studio (Nature, Environment, Science & Technology) and has shown films and installations nationally and internationally, exploring environmental and scientific themes through visual storytelling.