Submitted by Susannah Cook on Mon, 2023-08-21 10:16
What does your position involve?
I’m Danielle, the new Assistant Carbon Manager in the Sustainability Team. In this role I will be focusing work on sustainable labs and research and our scope 3 emissions. I will also be working on the wider carbon data reporting and sustainable business travel.
What is your (education/qualification) background, and how did you get here?
In a previous life before working in the environment and sustainability sector, I was a project manager in events and exhibitions until I decided to return to education to do a BSc in Environmental Science and change my career to something that I feel so strongly about, I felt I had to do something! Since then I have worked in the HE sector in another sustainability team and am now close to finishing my MSc in Sustainable Development.
What were you doing before joining the Environmental Sustainability Team?
I have come from another University working in energy and carbon management, and now I have the opportunity to delve even further into scope 3 and research.
What are you looking forward to getting your teeth into in the coming year?
I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the role, working on our carbon emissions data with a focus on sustainable labs and research and scope 3 emissions.
Who is your inspirational figure (real or fictional)?
I think this will depend on which day I am asked! From musicians and writers to political commentators or other celebrities using their platforms for driving positive change.
Do you have any hobbies?
In my free time I do a bit of running, hiking when I can and a lot of dog walking! I hope to expand my rather short list of hobbies after I graduate as free time is hard to come by at the moment!
What do you think is the biggest environmental challenge?
I think one of the biggest environmental challenges is the engagement and unity between people at the individual level and international scale. It can be easy to think that small changes at home do not make a difference, but collectively if we all understood what small changes we can make, small changes can become significant change! Education is key to this and is one of the many reasons why I have loved working in the HE sector as it provides opportunities to learn, is a place of support and is a sector that can inspire change for current and future generations!
What gets you out of bed (and into work) in the morning?
What gets me out of bed and into work in the morning? To be honest – it is usually the dog pestering me to get up and out for a walk!
What is your environment-related pet hate?
Thinking about my environment-related pet hate…it has to be littering! Even if you are not necessarily invested in the environment, I find it hard to accept littering because it is just the easiest thing not to do…Just, don’t throw rubbish on the ground, easy!
First impressions of Cambridge?
If I had to provide just one sustainability related top tip, it would be to leave the car at home when you can and enjoy taking extra time to cycle or walk, or any other active travel. (That might already be quite the norm in Cambridge, which is great!)