Gabriela Wiederkehr Guerra

What have you been up to since graduating from Jacobs?

I graduated in 2015 with a BSc. in Integrated Environmental Studies [now Earth and Environmental Sciences]. After that, I worked for a year (2015-2016) in Peru with an NGO called Fauna Forever. It is based in Puerto Maldonado, in the Madre de Dios region, which forms part of the Amazon basin. I was lucky to be involved in both administrative and field activities, as it allowed me to have the opportunity to gain great practical experience.
During this year, I became certain in what ambit of my career I wanted to focus on, which ended up being forest management and development. At the moment, I am pursuing a MSc at ETH in the Environmental Sciences program, with a specialization in Forest and Landscape Management. I have been working as a graduate assistant at the university. I am currently writing my thesis on the effects of forest degradation in the visitation frequency of Brazil nut pollinators in Madre de Dios, Peru. I should be graduating in September of this year, giving way to new opportunities and adventures.

What did Jacobs do for you that you were not expecting?

Sharing your everyday life with people coming from different parts of the world gave me more than just a classroom experience. This was thanks to the (truly) international environment Jacobs offered, which has been by far the most enriching one in my life. It was also where I met many beautiful people, some of which have also become my family and an important part of my life (despite the distance).

On the other hand, the academic experience was superb. Not only was I able to delve in different interesting topics, but I also had many hands-on experiences.

In conclusion, if I had the chance to go back in time, one thing I would not change is my decision to go to Jacobs University.