Today we’re speaking to Professor VanRiper, Lecturer of Environmental Studies and Co-Director of the Sustainability Exchange at Washington University in St. Louis. Professor VanRiper discusses her passion for sustainable sanitation and systems thinking, highlighting her international work and interdisciplinary approaches to community-based conservation. VanRiper’s research in container-based sanitation in Haiti demonstrates the impact of immersive fieldwork and collaboration with local communities. She emphasizes the importance of equity in global partnerships, appropriate technology in economically and environmentally insecure areas, and the role of students in driving positive change. The episode concludes with VanRiper's advice for engaging with politics to understand the regulatory frameworks influencing industrial operations.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:08 Discovering a Passion for Sustainable Sanitation

01:52 Current Work at Wash U

04:23 The Importance of Interdisciplinary Approaches

06:42 Global Collaboration and Equity in Research

10:13 Appropriate Technology for Sanitation

15:12 Container-Based Sanitation in Haiti

22:52 Empowering Students and Future Hopes

24:04 Role Models and Final Advice