Goedendag! My name is Nadia Zribi, and I’m a rising sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh. I am a student in both the Swanson School of Engineering and the Frederick Honors College, and in my time at Pitt I plan to pursue a B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering, an Honors Degree, and the Undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability. I’m a member of several clubs at Pitt, including Engineers for a Sustainable World (I’m the social media chair!), Society of Women Engineers, and Knittsburgh.

In the little pockets of free time I have, I enjoy hanging out with my friends, exploring new niche places in Pittsburgh and my hometown Rochester, NY, playing video games, reading, spending time with my cat Olive, and doing all sorts of arts and crafts. I particularly love crocheting and making jewelry! I hope to have my own jewelry and metalsmithing studio someday.

I first discovered my passion for sustainability when I was tasked with writing a persuasive speech two years ago and chose fast fashion as my topic. As I researched the fast fashion industry, I grew more appalled with each new fact and statistic I learned, and resolved that I would strive to be more environmentally conscious from then on. At Pitt, my involvement with our chapter of Engineers for a Sustainable World led me to attend the national ESWcon in Akron, OH this past March. There, I learned so much more about ways I could get involved with sustainability at Pitt and in my future career, and got the chance to network with dozens of like-minded students and professionals.

My continued interest in sustainability has guided me right to the Netherlands Plus3 Program! On our trip, I hope to gain insights into sustainable design and manufacturing that I can carry with me through my undergraduate studies and beyond. I’m especially looking forward to the opportunity to meet with and learn from company executives who have invested so much time and energy in working towards a better future for our planet. Between its green innovations, deep-rooted culture, historical artwork, and beautiful architecture, I have quickly fallen in love with the idea of visiting the Netherlands, and am thrilled about the prospect of exploring everything that makes the Netherlands unique!