Can you describe your IMPACT story in three words. Why those words?
Learning, Bridging, Reimagining
Why these words?
Learning captures both the research and personal aspect of my Impact story. For my project I investigate ancient water management systems in terraced landscapes, and how we can learn from past practices to develop more sustainable water management technologies in preparation for future changes.
The Impact Programme was packed with valuable training, which I had the pleasure to follow with an amazing cohort of Fellows. I learnt new ways of thinking about my research and work and following the training programme with a very multi-disciplinary cohort I learnt so much about other research fields.
Bridging reflects my ambition to close gaps: between past and future, environment and society, science and the wider public, academia and other sectors. This is a core aspect of my research and the way I hope to have a positive impact.
Reimagining. I am reimagining how we relate to landscapes, how science can engage with society, and how my own academic and entrepreneurial identities can coexist and reinforce one another.
What has been the most surprising or transformative moment during your fellowship?
The Impact Programme made me realise how entrepreneurial doing research is. It may seem obvious but there are many similarities between developing new research ideas and new professional avenues. Consciously applying the different approaches across both fields helps me progress in new ways.
How do you see your IMPACT experience influencing your next steps?
There is a personal and professional aspect to how I see my Impact experience influencing my next steps. Personally, already years before becoming an Impact Fellow, I had a quiet hope that somehow someday I would be able to marry my academic aspirations with my entrepreneurial spirit and creativeness. The Impact Programme has provided me with invaluable new skills and encouragement to continue pursuing this.
Professionally, by harnessing my Impact experience and skills, I hope to contribute to bridging the, what I fear sometimes is an increasing gap, between science and society. For example, through outreach, talk about our work but also what is science about and why does it matter, and make our scientific investments go the extra mile through cross-sectoral collaborations.