Katie Conlon, Ph.D., researches waste streams from the perspective of reconnecting an awareness of waste with social and ecological systems, re-envisioning waste narratives, and closing the loop on waste externalities. She is a zero waste advocate, a National Geographic Explorer (2020-22), Fulbright Fellow Sri Lanka (2018-19), and National Science Foundation Fellow (2014-19) from Portland State University (USA). Conlon’s dissertation research was focused on waste issues in Colombo, where she spent on-and-off 2 years for field research. Conlon has worked and researched across the Asian region on waste and sustainability issues in Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Vietnam, Japan, Nepal, and India. Conlon first became interested in ‘waste as a global issue’ as a Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa (2005-07). She saw firsthand the contradictions between ‘development’ and ecological harm, as the villages she was staying and working in were all sustained through traditional, self-sufficient livelihoods. She carries with her these deep lessons about living in harmony with the environment, which have significantly shaped her life trajectory. She is a member of the Global NELIS Network of sustainability practitioners, the National Geographic Explorer Community, Break Free From Plastic, 5 Gyres Ambassadors, and a Portland State Institute for Sustainable Solutions Ambassador. She has a Masters in International Peace Studies from Notre Dame (2012-14) and a BA from the University of San Diego in International Communications and Peace & Justice Studies (2001-05).
