The journey that started with a game and ended with a purpose
I never imagined that a student competition could take me across Europe with an Interrail pass and lead to sitting in a room full of rectors, deans, and researchers from the Coimbra Group. But that’s exactly what happened when my team won “Eyes of the Future” – a serious Game Competition focused on Sustainability, which brought me to Durham for the Climate Change Symposium.
My colleague Mihai and I, along with the second-winning team from Bergen, were the first students ever invited to such a high-level Coimbra Group event. It was fabulous and brilliant (as my new British friends would say)—participating in such an event and being surrounded by professionals who care just as deeply as activists and students about the planet.
Young energy
As students, we weren’t just there to sit quietly and clap. We were encouraged to speak up, ask questions, and network. I truly felt that our presence there was desired and appreciated: “a breath of fresh air and young energy”, we were called. We were also responsible for sharing what we learned, both during the event and after. I’ve been sharing live on social media every day, and my colleagues from Durham are working on a Vlog showing snippets of our time and reflections from the sessions.
Being there made us realize how important our voice is — as young people, as students, as changemakers. And I am proud to say that it also gave my beloved university, UAIC Iași some well-deserved visibility on the European stage. And I’m taking that momentum back with me, ready to build on it from my ambassador role.
My key takeaways
Last but not least, let me share with you my key takeaways from the sessions:
- We need to be closing the gap between what we know and what we do
- We are important actors that can help the planet transition to an economy that is renewable, sustainable, and regenerative
- We need to avoid short-term fixes for long-term problems
- Leading by example to inspire future generations is a must in the academic world
- Such events are encouraging society-wide collaborative action
- Diversity truly gives us resilience
Special thanks to Emma and the local team in Durham for making this experience truly unforgettable! We are looking forward to welcoming you all in Iași, Romania!
Discover more
Read Shatakshi’s blog about the competition here.
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