Student story Anda

I chose this programme for a mix of reasons. As a child, I was very idealistic about the future of the next generations, and I also really liked geography. During high school, I also studied disaster management and nature conservation, which pushed me toward environmental science. At the same time, I had quite a background in advanced math, and I wanted to combine both.

What I enjoyed the most about the Environmental Sciences programme was that every course had a practical application. The emphasis on labs and field trips was very important because it gave us a tangible view of our future workplaces. Another thing I liked was the mix of technical and non-technical courses. Even if I'd choose the sciences any day, this mix really helps round you out as a professional. Another special mention goes to the teachers in the Environmental Technology department, who treated us like fellow researchers. I had quite a niche thesis topic, and I felt very supported and trusted.

I chose Wageningen, honestly, because of the ranking. I always wanted to attend a university abroad. I did look into it, of course, but I basically googled the best university in environmental technology and environmental science, and there it was.

What I liked about Wageningen is the openness toward international students. In terms of challenges, getting used to the weather in the Netherlands was definitely one, and I think that is true for every expat. Another was adapting to Dutch social dynamics, with people being very direct. Now that I have moved to Southern Europe, people have ended up telling me that I am very direct (so it stuck).

As for student life, I would go out in the city centre and go for picnics, and I really liked the vintage markets and the fresh fruit markets. I also enjoyed taking little city trips to Utrecht and Groningen. What really made it feel like home were my friends. Actually, Wageningen also gifted me my best friend.

In terms of the challenges I want to contribute to, it is important to mention that I started working already during my bachelor's. I had a wonderful opportunity to work for a Romanian firm, and then one opportunity led to another. Over the last three years, I have been supporting large companies across diverse sectors in quantifying their environmental impact.

A bit of a jump from bio-process engineering, but I ended up specialising in this area. I discovered that academia often presents the science of environmental impact in a way that companies find difficult to access. So, I made it my mission to bring the scientific rigor of academic methodologies into the corporate world. The impact I will make is through continuing to help companies understand their environmental impact in a 360-degree way by leveraging research and science-based tools.

During my time at WUR, something that really helped me was the support of my study advisor. I had a very close relationship with her, and she always believed in me. Since I started working so young, I was sometimes half the age of everyone else in the room. I think the most important thing was learning to believe in myself, to believe in my vision of the world, and in how I think the world should be. That also helped me when making my study choice, because I have always believed that with the right tools, individuals can shape generations."