Carme Huguet has always been passionate about science. In fact, her interest began when she was just eight years old. She officially started her academic journey at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), in a biology program with a specialization in the study of soil for plant growth. This later pressed her to learn more about oceans, which led her to pursue her graduate studies in oceanography in the UK. She next moved on to the Netherlands to earn her PhD in biogeochemistry, before a stint in the US to participate in research cruises to study the effects of climate change in coastal settings. Carme also spent a period in Colombia as an assistant professor in a biosciences program.
All of this brought Carme right back to Spain, where she joined IE University to pursue her greatest passions: science and teaching. Carme’s work in the Bachelor in Environmental Sciences for Sustainability is focused not on the direct effects we experience through climate change, but the secondary ones. These include the water cycle, water availability, econsystems, agriculture, nutrient cycles and more.
A wider viewpoint of the issue at hand
Carme’s specialization in biogeochemical cycles in biogeochemistry allows her to address climate change and its residual effects in a variety of ways: “Climate change is a wicked problem that we don’t fully understand. It needs to be addressed at multiple levels, making it very complex. I look at what climate change looked like in the past and the consequences it had for different environments. This makes it more approachable.”
After years of research experience and teaching behind her, Carme thinks it’s imperative that students understand the climate system. “The important thing is not for students to replicate what I do, but instead that they gain a full understanding of the climate system, its links to the geochemical cycles and the necessity of approaching the different perspectives from different angles.” She believes that every student will find their specific expertise, which is crucial to finding solutions that cover a wide range of perspectives. “My role is to provide a clear basis of understanding what is happening and why.”
A multidisciplinary approach to change
The Bachelor in Environmental Sciences for Sustainability gives students the opportunity to build the foundations of what is happening in the world around them and break down why. Students can take that information and build on it—researching, innovating and finding real solutions. “I think if we have a multi-sector, multidisciplinary approach, students can do anything they put their mind to. They will be crucial at any level and instrumental in providing solutions.”
Carme believes that the future of humankind relies on adapting, finding solutions and creating lasting change. “I think we need as many hands on this issue as possible, with as many perspectives as possible, from research and policy making to entrepreneurship at the local, regional and global level.” And with Carme’s experience researching and working across the globe, she will be able to help students unlock those perspectives.
Discover more about Carme and how the Bachelor in Environmental Sciences for Sustainability can offer a broad view of all the issues necessary for a career in the sector, in this video.