"Studying ecology and environmental management has equipped me with knowledge about how climate change affects humans and other species, as well as how we can care for nature and the climate. I often see significant potential in opportunities for treating nature and the world more effectively. Unfortunately, decision-makers often lack the necessary knowledge to achieve the goal of a greener future," Lea says,
Green travel
Currently, Lea spends long days at the university, completing her master’s project. She has been experimenting with three different scents to attract otters, aiming to determine what works best. This research can help scientists capture otters more efficiently for tagging and tracking purposes. Lea chose this project partly because it allowed her to spend a lot of time outdoors.
Now, Lea is embarking on a somewhat different “fieldwork.” She has been selected as the sole representative from the University of South-Eastern Norway for the European Student Assembly (ESA) 2024 (eucinitiative.wordpress.com), which will take place at the European Parliament in Strasbourg from April 10th to 12th, 2024.
Even though it’s a bit cumbersome, she has purchased a good old-fashioned Interrail ticket so that she can travel green, by train, to and from Strasbourg.
- Download the ESA Handbook: ESA24-Handbook (run-eu.eu)
Influencing the EU
ESA is a grassroots project stemming from the European Universities Community (EUC) (eucinitiative.wordpress.com).
Each year, ESA brings together more than 220 students from European Universities Alliances (EUA) (education.ec.uropa.eu) to discuss current issues, develop policy recommendations for Europe’s future, and promote these ideas among stakeholders and decision-makers.
“By participating in ESA, I can use my knowledge and expertise to help find solutions and innovations. ESA will provide me with valuable experiences and lasting memories, which I believe will encourage me to become more involved in politics—to connect with decision-makers and make my voice heard alongside many other European students on a large scale. The goal is to have a positive impact on future EU regulations,” says Lea.
Community across Europe
USN is part of the European university alliance European Digital UniverCity (EDUC) (usn.no/educ), and students from all eight partner universities have been invited to participate in this third gathering of ESA. EDUC covers travel costs and participation fees for the students.
“There’s something very nice about traveling as part of a group and feeling a sense of community across universities in Europe. It’s a significant bonus,” says Lea.
“Greener is better”
At the ESA conference, Lea will participate in panel number two, “Greener is better”, where the theme is nature and climate. The challenge for students is to address how the EU can establish responsible growth in the context of climate change.
“Nature and climate are my passions, and I chose this panel because climate adaptation and nature restoration are close to my heart,” says Lea. She is also a member of the student council at USN and actively involved in the student association Nature and People, which focuses on environmental and nature studies at USN.
Somewhat stressed
“I do get stressed, especially since there’s a lot happening towards the end of a master’s degree program, and time flies. However, the idea of traveling to Strasbourg doesn’t stress me out. While it’s a professional and formal setting, many of us are ‘first-timers,’ and I believe it will be more relaxed than it sounds,” she explains.
Lea adds that participating in ESA offers not only an opportunity to influence but also a chance to learn from different cultures and exchange ideas and opinions:
“I want to contribute to shaping a common vision for Europe’s future. I believe that an assembly like ESA is a valuable way to practice democratic participation, promote dialogue and mutual understanding, and strengthen the sense of European identity and citizenship. Interacting with so many other European students from diverse backgrounds, languages, and perspectives will broaden my horizons by revealing new aspects of European culture, history, and society,” she concludes.