Helo! (Greetings in Welsh) My name is Sophia Westfall and I am 21 years old. I am currently studying Creative Writing in a postgraduate program at Cardiff University in Wales. I was born and raised in the pine barrens of New Jersey, where my interests in nature, beekeeping, and writing first blossomed.
I then attended Rutgers University-Camden, where I studied English and Digital Studies with a minor in writing. Between my studies, working in tech, and running different writing clubs, I worked on an honors thesis with our English department that allowed me to study the intersection of environmentalism and writing. I studied ancient bookbinding practices, such as from Egypt or Rome, and replicated them using local organic matter to create what I call, biodegradable literature. Biodegradable literature can be books that are designed or materially influenced by the environment. I was awarded a grant to continue my research and eventually developed curriculum-like workshops where I could teach others how to create these experiments in their own yards and kitchens.
Wanting to expand on this research, I was granted a Fulbright Scholarship to come to Wales and study how different regions affect the bookbinding and writing process from an environmental lens. I will be using Welsh algae from along the coasts to create leathers, berries for inks, and even local sheep for thread to bind my books.
Want to learn how you could be a Fulbright Scholar like me? The Fulbright Program is the United States government's flagship international exchange program. Fulbrighters foster mutual understanding between the United States and partner nations, share knowledge across communities, and improve lives around the world. Learn more by clicking here!
