My background is in natural and social environmental sciences: after my Masters in Biology (University of Regensburg) I came to Hungary to work and study with ESSRG at St. István University Gödöllő, where I completed my PhD on the role of NGOs in biodiversity governance in 2014. During an internship with FAO I worked on sustainable agricultural systems and land use, which is a topic I have been happy to focus on also within Climate-KIC.
The Cimate-KIC Pioneers into Practice programme was a great experience: I learned a lot and built many new contacts.
Both of my Climate-KIC PiP hosts were very nice and supportive. During my domestic placement with SEED Foundation I conducted a background study on a very interesting topic. There, I could apply my research skills to a new field. For my international placement I returned to Italy (I had lived there already two times for shorter periods of time), and this time fully immersed into Italian food culture. With my host CCPB, I had the chance to work on exciting new topics in the area of climate mitigation. I am still in contact with both hosts and currently working on some exciting project ideas with my domestic host.
The combination of practical placements with workshops and seminars was an excellent short business course. The skills I learned and practiced and the insight I gained are of course valuable for my future career.
Above all, I very much enjoyed cooperating with so many inspiring and committed people within the PiP programme. I am glad to now be a member of the Climate-KIC community, with its excellent professional network. And last but not least, I also made new friends in Hungary and abroad.