To be an MSc CCAFS student…

I discovered in mid-July of 2016 that I had received a scholarship to study in Ireland. The course was a Masters in Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security. The university, NUIG. The sponsor, Irish Aid. I arrived to a fading summer in Dublin to meet the ICOS staff who would support me during my studies and the fellows who would be studying with me in Galway.

I had been warned that a year-long Masters would be hard work with little free time. I had also been warned that Ireland is one of the wettest countries, and Galway, the rainiest city in the wettest country. All of the warnings were correct. Nevertheless, I have had a phenomenal experience living in Galway.

Dr Peter McKeown and Prof Charlie Spillane ensured that the coursework for this MSc was jam-packed full of guest lecturers from a vast array of backgrounds. I could be guaranteed interesting lectures for each module, which varied from global health to sustainable circular and bio-economies. With the coursework finished, it is now time for the research part of this Masters. I hope to return to Ireland in four months with a thesis to present at the MSc CCAFS conference in August. To the airport!