Harvard student and Bow Seat alum Emily Xing: How being a FBYC member shaped her interests and advice to young environmental leaders
May 29, 2026By Malika Gizzat, 2026 Bow Seat Alumni Advisor
The Alumni Spotlight Series is a celebration of Bow Seat’s alumni as they continue to make waves in the world. This series aims to highlight their journeys, showcase their creative and environmental work, and inspire our Bow Seat community with stories of impact and growth. Readers can expect monthly insightful interviews, personal reflections, and updates on how these young changemakers are using art, advocacy, and innovation to shape a more sustainable future.
Watch our Loud Pigment podcast episode with Emily
Emily Xing was a 2023 Future Blue Youth Council member and a junior at Harvard University who’s interested in environmental health, urban studies, and how social, technological, and environmental determinants shape our well-being and happiness. Living in Boston, she actually met up with Bow Seat alumni and staff members many times after her council term!
“I’m constantly amazed by the amount of art and science in the world I’ve yet to see. Bow Seat is luckily in Boston, so I get to attend different events with them :)”
In high school and prior to the council, Emily was passionate about entrepreneurship and developed a biodegradable menstrual pad made completely from the tobacco plant! During her term at Bow Seat, she worked with two organizations in Nepal and Nigeria that promoted menstrual equity. One hosted local education workshops and the other focused on turning waste fabric into art, while also teaching locals how this fabric could be turned into menstrual products. She also worked broadly on evaluating applications and putting the annual magazine together.
“It was very eye-opening to work with passionate people who are so far away.”
Being a Harvard student, Emily now wants to end smoking and is working on finding alternative uses for the plant, such as turning it into raw fabric material. She is working as a research assistant in the Viswanath lab analyzing trends in tobacco and alcohol usage in low- and middle-income countries, among other labs across Dana Farber Cancer Institute and the Harvard School of Public Health. She also did some research in both environmental engineering (turning industrial wastes into biofuel) and anti-smoking public health research. Apart from that, Emily is a teaching fellow for the introductory Statistical Inference course, and last year she hosted educational workshops on urban justice for her dorm community as a part of Harvard’s Climate Action Camp pilot cohort.
“Even broader than that, I’m passionate about teaching statistics and conducting social impact research, and hope to be a professor some day. “
Reflections about her Council term:
Being in the FBYC taught Emily how to be a good mentor and communicate with team members. More importantly, she learned to be considerate of her teammates and understand the differing backgrounds. When asked what advice she would give to the future council members, she emphasized the importance of staying connected with one another!
“If you ever want a project partner, or someone to bounce ideas off of, your fellow council members will be great resources :). Definitely message different people on the team and ask about their projects that interest you. There are so many ways beyond what’s written in the description to engage with others. So be proactive to the extent that you have energy to!”
When brainstorming how to create a successful council application, Emily recommended to stay authentic and ask yourself those questions: “What motivates you? Did you grow up around a large river? Did you garden with your mom on the weekend? What has led you where you are, who have you met in your projects, and why are you the most impactful person to do what you do?” Everyone has their own unique niche and staying true to one’s self is the most important part of the application process.
Emily called the council a very unique experience and wrote about it in her college applications, focusing on the impact of creativity and storytelling in all that she does. If you’re looking for ways to get involved in environmental advocacy, Emily recommends brainstorming on what you actually enjoy doing and turning that action into a meaningful impact. She recommends looking at the environmental problems in one’s own local community, spreading awareness, and tackling a tangible issue there.
And as final piece of advice from an ambitious Ivy League student:
“Never let go of your ability to create, and never be afraid to put your work out there. “