From architecture to sustainability

I first became interested in sustainability during my undergraduate studies in Architecture, where I was introduced to environmental and sustainable design.

As decarbonisation has become more important across different industries, I wanted to understand the subject in greater depth and learn how sustainability can be applied to real- world challenges.

Learning new ways to approach problems

I’ve really enjoyed the course, and two of my favourite modules have been Systems thinking and Science-based decision making.

Systems thinking changed the way I approach sustainability challenges. It encouraged me to look beyond a single problem and think about the wider system, the people involved and how everything connects. Science-based decision making gave me a different perspective. I learned how to use evidence and data to understand environmental impacts, evaluate carbon emissions and make better decisions.

Putting learning into practice

As part of the programme, we have the opportunity to work in groups with an external organisation on a real business challenge. This gave me the chance to use the knowledge and tools I developed during the taught part of the course.

The project showed me that consultancy is not only about technical knowledge. Working in a team means working with different personalities, perspectives and ways of thinking. This made the experience feel much closer to professional life.

I also learned that solving a real business problem is very different from completing a classroom assignment. Information and data are not always complete, so we had to define the problem carefully, make reasonable assumptions and adapt our approach as the project developed.

Understanding what the client needs is just as important as technical analysis. We also had to turn our findings into practical recommendations that could be useful to the client.

“The consultancy project helped me develop not only my analytical skills, but also my communication, teamwork, adaptability and problem-solving skills.”

Looking ahead

After graduation, I hope to use what I have learned at Bath in a career related to sustainability and decarbonisation.

The consultancy project has helped me understand how the tools and methods learned at university can be used in a professional setting. I hope to continue developing these skills and contribute to projects where sustainability can lead to practical decisions and measurable improvements.

For me, university is not only a place to gain academic knowledge. It is also a place to learn how to work with different people, deal with challenges and understand ourselves better.