Category: Students presentations

Hello everyone! I’m Laura, 24 years old, from Italy.

I graduated in chemical and biochemical engineering in Bologna, Italy.  After my bachelor, I had the desire to travel and improve my personal path. For this reason, I worked for some months as an au-pair in San Francisco, California. At the same time, I was willing to shift my study toward a more sustainable field. That is why I’m currently enrolled in the Advanced Material Innovative Recycling (AMIR) master’s program, which gave me the opportunity to study in Lisbon and Madrid.

I’m enthusiastic about acquiring new knowledge to find solutions for the environmental challenges we are facing today, and I hope I would be able to actively contribute after my studies.

In my daily life I’ve always tried my best to have a sustainable lifestyle and be helpful in my community. This brought me to work as an educator in middle and high school, organizing awareness courses in my hometown. I also like to spend my free time with my family and friends and watching movies and paint.

About LAURA ROSSO

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Hi there and welcome to my blog! My name is Thomas Opsomer, I am 24 years old and currently studying at the Technical University of Madrid and also living in Madrid, Spain. I am in the second year of my master AMIR (Advanced Materials: Innovative Recycling) where we focus on circular economy and recycling of construction waste. In the first year, I studied in Bordeaux, France where we focused on chemistry and advanced materials.

I already hold a master’s degree in Bioscience Engineering: Environmental Technology at KU Leuven, Belgium. However, the program at KU Leuven zoomed less into the profound understanding of sustainable use of minerals and materials recycling. AMIR offers the possibility to deepen my knowledge in different aspects of materials science, the energy efficiency of processes and the fundamentals of waste recovery. Especially, since I want to pursue a career in battery recycling and developing new and innovative methods to improve recycling efficiencies, this master’s is a very valuable addition to my curriculum.

This whole experience of moving abroad has broadened my horizons and inspired me in many ways. I met so many interesting people along the way from all over the world and even got to know myself better. I strongly believe that these genuine connections made with people from different backgrounds and cultures helped to develop myself and will also help me to develop my professional career.

I sincerely hope we can connect on this blog to learn with and from each other, because, what is more rewarding than working together to create a sustainable world?

About THOMAS OPSOMER

My name is Thomas Opsomer, I am 24 years old and I come from Belgium. My background is in Bioscience Engineering and I already hold a masters degree in Bioscience Engineering: Environmental Technology at KU Leuven. I decided to pursue a second master AMIR to deepen my understanding and knowledge in the field of material science and battery recycling.

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Hello blog-enthusiasts! Please allow me to present myself: I am Kai Madjidi from Munich, Gemrnay, and I’m a Bachelor of Economic Psychology with a passion for sustainability and a drive to create a better future for the next generations.

Having worked in various fields, including public administration, tech startups, COVID-19 response centers, and language teaching, I’ve gained a broad perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing our world.

My diverse experiences have fueled my conviction that real change requires a holistic approach, encompassing not just industry-led initiatives but also well-crafted regulations and a sustainable tax system. I believe that by aligning economic incentives with environmental goals, we can design a market that fosters sustainable practices and protects our planet for future generations.

My professional aspirations lie in joining organizations such as the United Nations, the European Union, and non-profit organizations that are working at the forefront of sustainable development. I envision myself contributing my skills and knowledge to shaping policies and programs that drive environmental protection, social equity, and economic resilience.

Beyond my professional pursuits, I’m a music lover, enjoying genres ranging from rap and techno to classic 60s rock. I also find inspiration in nature, spending time hiking, exploring new places, and appreciating the beauty of the natural world. Moreover I play basketball which teaches me to use individual skills together in a team.

My journey has been shaped by a deep-seated belief in the power of individual and collective action to create a brighter future.

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Hello! My name is Wilma Jonsson and I am 24 years old. I am from Sweden and I am currently studying Environmental Engineering at Lund University. I am currently in my fourth year and this autumn and winter I am in Madrid doing my Erasmus exchange at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. My courses are part of a master program called Circular Economy and the focus is mainly on recycling, sustainability in construction and demolition, industries and energy but also on valuable skills such as personal development and sustainable entrepreneurship.

So far I am really happy with my decision to go abroad on an exchange since I love exploring new cities and cultures. The opportunity to go to Spain has also allowed me to further improve my Spanish and hopefully I will feel more confident in Spanish after my time here.

My decision to go into a field of sustainability comes from my love for nature, animals and the environment. I would hope to be able to have a career at a company that has a positive impact on the environment and that is one of the reasons why I chose Environmental Engineering. In the future I hope to work with sustainable cities in some way. Connect with me on LinkedIn if you want to keep in touch!

About WILMA JONSSON

Hello! My name is Wilma Jonsson and I am currently studying Environmental Engineering at Lund University. At the moment I am doing my Erasmus exchange in Madrid at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid.

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Hello! My name is Julia Alonzo and I’m from the Philippines.

Currently I live in Spain and I’m taking up my 2nd year Masters at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid under the Advanced Materials Innovative Recycling (AMIR) program. My 1st year was in Université de Bordeaux in France.

I’m passionate about circular economy and sustainability in various fields especially on packaging.

Prior to my masters I have worked several years in a global FMCG as a Packaging Materials Specialist which lead me to become invested in this area. My expertise is on managing projects from supplier qualification, specification design, safety and compliance, manufacturing, and print development. I also worked on key design for recycling initiatives during this time.

I graduated with a Bachelors in Chemical Engineering in The University of the Philippines Diliman and I had my thesis as well as plant design related to natural fiber reinforced polymers and material recovery from waste tires. I had many co-curricular activities since I was part of organizations that were involved in managing events (outreach, symposiums, and conventions) across the country.

Throughout my education, I’ve been involved in Science and Technology even in my secondary school days in Philippine Science High School which had a big impact to my life. To this day I still remember this quote that our principal, Mrs. Fundador used to say every week.

“Be victors of circumstance”

For me, this means whatever life may bring, whatever circumstance you face, engage and do your best to overcome all obstacles – with the support of family, friends, colleagues and mentors.

In my available time, I like to travel and explore. I am a foodie and I have many hobbies such as photography and origami.

About JULIA PATRICIA MARI LOPEZ ALONZO

Hi! I'm Julia from the Philippines. A packaging specialist that's currently working towards my master degree in circular economy under the Advanced Materials Innovative Recycling (AMIR) program. Please connect with me in LinkedIn. Looking forward to have you part of my professional network!

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Hey, everyone!

My name is Gabriel Carvalho Bertassone Avila and I was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

I have always been curious about how factories and the processes around us work. Along with this fact, as I was interested in physics and chemistry after high school, I decided I wanted to become an engineer.

I graduated in Chemical Engineering from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in 2021, after some valuable work experiences in the field of sustainability, process engineering, and research and development. I had the opportunity to work in my hometown and also abroad, in countries like the Netherlands and Czech Republic.

Passionate about new experiences, different cultures, and foreign languages, getting a degree abroad was one of my goals and I am currently fulfilling it! I am a student in the double-degree program of the Advanced Materials and Innovative Recycling (AMIR) master, in the Materials Engineering and Circular Economy track, spending the first year of the program at NOVA University Lisbon, and the second year at UPM.

I am interested in innovation in circular economy, development of sustainable polymeric materials, advanced materials and life cycle assessment studies and excited to connect and learn more with you all!

About Gabriel Avila

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Hello everyone! I’m Majd MUSTAFA, 27 years old from Syria.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Metals Engineering from Al-Baath University, Syria.

Curious and focused. These two traits always motivate me to be a change-maker. After translating a TED talk on curbing climate change given by Jens Burchardt, BCG’s global expert on climate impact, I decided to join the AMIR master’s program which in heart combines the vision of innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship.

As an avid advocate of SDGs, I participated in several events organized by the EIT RawMaterials like Label StartUp 2023 in Brussels, Raw & Circular Economy Expedition (RACE) 2023 in Spain and Portugal, and Debate Role Game – EELISA in Bordeaux. At each event, I had to work with a different team including students from all over the world which honed my soft and hard skills.

I envision pursuing a Ph.D. after completing my master’s degree since I want to be more than an observer in the materials universe, I would like to discover and overcome our century’s challenges. I am a hard worker, eager to research and learn, and fully invested in becoming a major player in the future of Materials Science.

In my free time, I play guitar and do voluntary activities such as Translating TED Talks (English-Arabic) and mentoring students in the Syrian Youth Empowerment (SYE) initiative.

Learn more about me:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/majd-mustafa.

TED Translators: https://www.ted.com/profiles/29536772/translator.

About MAJD MUSTAFA

My name is Majd MUSTAFA, I am 27 years old and I come from Syria. I have a Bachelor's degree in Metals Engineering from Al-Baath University, Syria. As an avid advocate for SDGs and passionate about Materials Science, I decided to do the AMIR master's program to be able to effectively contribute to the sustainability of our planet.

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I am María Paula González, born in Bucaramanga, Colombia on July 27, 1996. The values ​​that represent me are respect, loyalty, patience, commitment and responsibility. I consider myself a calm and empathetic person. I like order and the sport which I practiced for 10 years, competitively representing my country in different international tournaments. I studied civil engineering at the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana de Bucaramanaga. I finished my degree with my thesis that had a sustainable approach using recycled materials for the production of insulating panels as an alternative to reduce temperatures in homes and avoid the use of air conditioners. Once I finished this thesis, I identified a taste that I have for sustainability and research being in laboratories to test materials or researching new uses for them.Once I finished my studies, I went to live in Malta for a year where I learned English and worked in a restaurant as a waitress. Once my stay in Malta ended, I went to Madrid where I started working in a restaurant and began studying my master’s degree in circular economy in the specialty of minerals and construction materials, which I chose because it covers two of the topics that I like. Construction materials but with an environmentally sustainable approach. One of my future goals is to work in places that allow me to be in the laboratories, identifying new uses for materials focused on construction.

About MARIA PAULA GONZALEZ WANDURRAGA

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I’m Simon Coen, 22, from Belgium.

I have a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Geological Engineering from the University of Liège.

In the face of climate and environmental emergencies, the management and recycling of raw materials is essential. This is why I have committed to the AMIR master program.

While topics like recycling, urban mining, raw material sourcing, criticality are of high interest for me, I like to develop intrepreneurial ideas to implement circularity.

Always seeking a new adventure, I like to travel, I have studied one year in the USA and in Portugal. During my free time, I enjoy hiking, doing sports and learning new things.

Learn more about me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-coen-702071259