Met Saahil at Sofiya‘s birthday party.
So Rocio, what are you studying?
– I am doing a Master in conservation Biology.
How come and you choose these studies?
– I always knew that I wanted to study biology. It is something related to nature and then when I had some work experience related to the conservation of endangered species I decided that I want to learn more about that, so I can keep working on it.
Can you tell me one of those species you worked with?
– Yes, I worked with the leatherback sea turtle, which until February last year was critically endangered, now they just changed it to endangered, but it is still in problems.
How come you found yourself in Sweden at Lund University?
– When I decided to study again I started to look different programs and a friend told me about this University, I looked for different programs and I liked the idea of this conservation Master that they had. The education system is very different from what I am used to in Spain, so I wanted to try a new challenge.
What is the difference here?
– For example in Spain, at least in my University, we go there the professor is talking ad we keep notes and that is all. We have some practical work but not very related to the lessons.
– Here I feel they want you to be very involved with the University and the professors also are very involved or engaged if you want. As a student here you can really feel part of the University
Tell us a story about your life in Lund
– Off…, I am only three weeks here.
Ok, something simple from your life then?
– A big experience for me was the work with the Leatherback turtles. I used to work at night looking for the mother turtle that went to the beach to lay the eggs. So I found a turtle, I tagged her, I took all the measurements I needed to change the place of her eggs because they were laid at a very bad place on the beach and two months later I went to the place and I could see the babies going out in the sea. If I hadn’t changed the eggs, the little turtles would be dead. I felt I had done something to save them and it worked.
– The baby turtles live alone and never meet their mother again. You feel scared for the turtles because they may not survive.
What do you expect of your studies here at Lund University?
– I wish to get different points of view as also get inside of the scientific world more. To avoid being very passive and also get more critical thinking. I would like to able to apply what I learn here to my future work. I do not want to have so much theoretical knowledge but more practical.
Fact: Studentgård
Studentgård is a photo project by photographer Kalandranis Dimitris. The project covers life stories of the Lund University Students.
