Interviewed by Ellie S. (12G)
Introduction: Cayden G is a rising college senior studying Computer Science and History. He is currently researching humanoid robotics and previously worked on cybersecurity and national security projects. He also loves photography and is actively involved with his campus newspaper as the Photo Editor.
Lets hear his story and insights.
Sustainability isn’t just for environmental scientists. How have you blended your specific talents with your passion for the climate?
Cayden: I blend my passion for the climate with visual storytelling through both personal and professional photography. In my personal photography, I often focus on wildlife and nature photography, especially birding; capturing the natural beauty of birds in flight deepens my appreciation for the environment. Professionally, as the photo editor for my college newspaper, I also use my lens to amplify climate action on campus. I frequently document key events like our student-organized Climate Week and initiatives from the School of Sustainability, and by photographing these crucial conversations, I help translate complex environmental efforts into visual narratives that engage and educate our broader community.
Can you share a story of a time you recruited a peer or a younger student into a project, and how that one-on-one connection changed their perspective?
Cayden: During my senior year, a major goal of mine was building a stronger photography pipeline for our student newspaper. I recruited several underclassmen and mentored them one-on-one, showing them that journalism was more than just writing words on a page. I handed them cameras and taught them how a single frame could hold an expression or moment no sentence could reach: the exhaustion on a protester’s face, the tension in a crowd. That shifted their perspective from just taking pictures to using visual storytelling to preserve present truths and drive change. Today, watching them bring light to crucial community issues and break big stories is incredibly rewarding. Returning to speak on alumni panels, I’ve loved seeing how those initial connections continue to empower new voices.
Using your science background, how would you explain a specific environmental challenge to someone?
Cayden: Robot Learning, a field that uses machine learning to teach robots novel skills, has enabled humanoid robots to quickly move from prototypes toward real-world deployment over the past few years; in fact, venture funding for robotics has consequently tripled between 2023 and 2025. However, the industry’s extreme growth will soon lead to a serious materials problem that carries a heavy environmental cost. Robot actuators, which are essentially the robot’s high-precision “muscles,” depend on neodymium-iron-boron magnets, and the rare earths behind them are among the dirtiest materials to produce. In fact, every metric ton mined generates an estimated 2,000 tons of toxic waste, and they often come with radioactive thorium and uranium. Separating the elements requires harsh acids and ammonia, and the dysprosium and terbium that keep magnets stable inside hot motors come largely from in situ leaching (ISL), one of mining’s most destructive techniques. Scaling to billions of robots will multiply the current environment footprint of robotics dramatically.
