Nicolas Thorpe

About Nicolas

(updated 6/2016) With family ties to Venezuela, Nick Thorpe grew up in the Bay Area of California and San Antonio, Texas. In May 2015, Nick graduated from Rice University with a double major in Political Science and Environmental Policy. As an undergraduate, Nick has focused on understanding domestic and international energy, environment, and policy issues and on finding workable solutions in the private and public sectors. For two summers, Nick interned in Washington, D.C., first for a non-partisan policy think tank, then for the U.S. Trade Representative in the Environment and Natural Resources Office, where he participated in the inner-workings of the federal government and learned about the utilization of trade policy to enforce environmental provisions. Through these experiences, he became fascinated by the relationship between local and central governments on environment and energy issues, and how they work together to meet international commitments. Nick spent a semester in Santiago, Chile, exploring Chile’s politics, economics and culture and conducting an independent study project on local environmental policy. At Rice, Nick served as a student government representative, academic fellow, and orientation week advisor at his residential college, Lovett College. He has volunteered as the lunch hosting committee chair, executive board member and tour guide for the Student Admission Council, where he provides prospective students with a look into student life, academics and the college environment. 
Since coming to  Hanoi, Vietnam in late June 2015, Nick has been living with a wonderful homestay family (cô Mai and chú Vi ệ t) and exploring the city on his Yahama Nuovo motorbike. At his placement with the local environmental NGO  PanNature , Nick is researching the environmental implications that trade deals, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, have in such a bio-diverse country like Vietnam. With the ultimate goal of positively impacting people’s lives while protecting our environment in the process, Nick plans to pursue a career as a public servant and expert on local environmental and energy policy. Nick also enjoys watching comedic TV shows and movies, cooking Venezuelan food, playing tennis, and exploring craft beer.