Intern Reflection, Yizhi Shen
Yizhi Shen (Masters Student, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health) interned at SSC during the summer of 2023.
At the Smart Surfaces Coalition, I worked as Water Research Intern and analyzed the economic impacts (i.e., the water-related benefits) of green infrastructure. I gained invaluable experience quantifying the benefits of green infrastructure for stormwater management, urban flood control, and water quality improvements.
My primary responsibility was updating SSC’s Cost-Benefit Analysis Tool by thoroughly researching and inputting relevant parameters for stormwater runoff capture, flood mitigation, and pollution reduction associated with different green infrastructure practices. This allows users to roughly evaluate the financial returns (in the form of avoided costs) of green approaches compared to traditional gray infrastructure. I also conducted a case study applying this tool to estimate the economic impacts of green infrastructure implementation in the city of New Orleans.
During this internship, I faced the challenges of researching complex hydrology issues and consolidating dispersed scientific data into a cohesive economic framework. However, my mentors at SSC provided excellent guidance every step of the way. I am very grateful for their patience and expertise in helping me surmount obstacles and produce meaningful results for the organization.
This internship significantly expanded my knowledge of urban stormwater management and how environmental economics can be helpful in mitigating climate change and urban sustainable development. Now, I better understand how green infrastructure can address climate challenges while saving money. I appreciate the opportunity SSC provided to apply my studies and start building experience in this important field.
