LASA explored the San Pedro Port Complex via Zoom, a little expert help, and rapid research by the students. Given the breadth of issues at the core of the relationship between LA and the port(s), we launched a student research challenge.
In Zoom breakout rooms, five groups tackled the history of Terminal Island, environmentalism, automation and labor, global trade in the age of COVID, and the new Gerald Desmond Bridge. They created slide decks to present to their LASA-mates and searched for creative Zoom backgrounds to highlight their findings.
In the midst of this research, we welcomed President of the Board of Harbor Commissioners Jaime Lee. Jaime shared her personal story of her experiences at Harvard Westlake to USC to her family business and civic engagement. Neni found it “really inspiring to hear her high school story and how she got to work at the port.” Jaime also walked through a range of issues confronting the Harbor Commissioners – including many of those LASA students researched.
“Covering information about freight hubs and the very stringent transport service guidelines in the LA Port,” Natalie reflected that “what surprised me the most was when she mentioned the export of raw soybean products and the return of finished products using these goods.”
After terrific student research presentations, LASA welcomed back two alums, Lucy and Finn, who spent this past summer conducting their own research as recipients of LASA summer research contest funds.
Maya shared that Lucy’s work on the Ballona Wetlands and Finn’s on residential solar power were “especially relevant to” her interests in “sustainability and the environmental impact of urbanization.”
LASA ended the day with new questions to pursue, including Colin’s on sustainable power sources to incorporate into the port and society more generally and Natalie’s on what she might propose as a summer research project. And Elizabeth couldn’t help but take a mini roadtrip on Tuesday to drive over the new bridge. We look forward to continuing our journey together in November.