Getting started

A week and two days ago, I physically arrived in Exeter (Devon, UK) to start working here on the postdoc project. The first couple of days were mainly filled with practicalities and arranging all sorts of administrative things – which actually went quite smooth, thanks to the fantastic helpfulness and friendliness of everyone here! The Exeterians have certainly made a good impression in making me feel welcome as a an employee, and as a new habitant of their city! 

Here a picture of me behind my new desk (the upper picture), and a picture of my new office mate, Hannah Chiswell (in lower picture, who also took this pictures): 

After the first few days, my attention started to shift to the content of my tasks for the BASE project. The first task will be oriented towards preparing for a workshop in Delft (the Netherlands), 27 and 28 November. This preparation means rapidly informing myself on two cases in Devon; one being about the South Devon Coast (mostly Dawlish and Dartmouth), and one being about ecosystem services in Exmoor National Park. Coming Tuesday, the 19^th, my supervisor Duncan Russel will show me the two case study sites. (Duncan is a senior lecturer here in Exeter in politics of climate change and sustainable futures.) I have not visited these sites before, and am very much looking forward to it.

On Thursday, I was able to attend the weekly lunch seminar session on Environment & Sustainability, from the group of Neil Adger (who is a professor in human geography and environmental social sciences, also here in Exeter). I was hoping and looking forward to attending some lectures, presentations or discussions sessions here in Exeter; but it feels so nice to have found a weekly seminar series in my research field so soon and even in the same building.