$20k awarded to environmentally-minded masters student

With rising awareness among consumers about the environmental impact of their supermarket choices, Master of Commerce student Justine Lee is investigating changes in New Zealand household food purchases with the support of a William Georgetti scholarship.

Buying and consuming food, says Justine, is a universal activity, but conversations about single-use plastics, recycling, and public transport often overshadow discussions on sustainable eating.

"I hope to see sustainable eating play an increasingly bigger role in climate change discussions," says the standout scholar who found out she was being awarded $20,000 to support her postgraduate study last month.

Following her scholarship application, Justine was interviewed at Government House in Wellington, and soon after, she received the call that she had scored one of the prestigious scholarships established by the Estate of William Georgetti, who, before his passing in 1943, farmed an extensive property at Fernhill, near Hastings.

Justine says the interview process was exciting and a little intimidating.

"There was a decent amount of security, and when I got to the interview room, I was met by a panel of five. It was the first time I've had so many people interview me. But they were really friendly.

"I'm passionate about the environment," says Justine, "so once I began talking about my research and goals, I could relax."

For her thesis, Justine is utilising data between 2012 to 2020 from Nielsen Homescan, which records and analyses consumer behaviour, including grocery purchases. This will enable her to investigate the corresponding environmental impact of changes in food choices, as well as the determinants and predictability of households purchasing more environmentally-friendly food products.

Justine says the findings will help inform decision-makers regarding the characteristics of households most able to decrease their environmental impact through changes in food consumption.

"I'll also investigate the claim that eating sustainably puts a dent in the wallet by comparing the expenditure of households with high carbon footprints to those with low carbon footprints. This understanding will help decision-makers address the barriers to more sustainable diets."

Justine, who grew up in Christchurch, is keen to make a real difference with her research by influencing policy. She has also changed her shopping habits over the past few years and has transitioned to a primarily plant-based diet to reduce her own carbon footprint.

"In future, I want to make a valuable contribution and use my skills to address the social challenges our country faces. I'm so grateful to my lecturers and supervisors for being so supportive of my every endeavour, including my application for this scholarship, which is providing massive support to me this year."

Learn more about the William Georgetti scholarships.