By Liisi Lees (ELP 2023) | Junior Research Fellow, Estonian Marine Institute, University of Tartu

Growing up on the Estonian island of Saaremaa was truly magical. Our family raised goats, and my uncle was a fisherman. Most of our food came from our neighbors. Nature was intertwined into our daily lives, cherished and treated like family, with care and respect. I was a social kid, interacting with everyone who visited us and spending the majority of my days outdoors—learning about plants, gathering mushrooms or berries, or simply exploring the forest.

When the time came to move to the mainland and decide on a university major, the general advice was to choose something that I was passionate about. But what was my passion? I had no clue. In my younger years, I aspired to be the mother of my toy penguin, Lolo. Unfortunately, that wasn't a realistic path. I applied for gene technology, advertising, and environmental sciences. Ultimately, I selected environmental sciences primarily because it was the first program that offered me a tuition-free spot and the university was located near the sea.

After a few detours, I began working at the Estonian Marine Institute, University of Tartu. I engaged in several projects and eventually felt a desire to contribute to writing proposals and shaping content. The first project I participated in focused on the "Revitalization of European local communities with innovative bio-based business models and social innovation." This was the perfect opportunity to suggest Saaremaa as a case study. The project BlueBioClusters received funding, leading me to work on raising awareness about the blue bioeconomy—harnessing the potential of marine living resources—not only in Saaremaa but also through collaboration with "communities of practice" across Europe.

Yet, I couldn't help but question whether this was genuinely my calling. I had devoted years to studying environmental science and had even enrolled in a PhD program on environmental technology. Was it a matter of perseverance, or was the environment truly my ultimate passion? There were signs telling me that I was on the right path. I have the opportunity to contribute to preserving childhood experiences similar to mine. I have the privilege to work with people, as highlighted at Berkeley, environmental issues often intersect with social challenges. And then, another sign emerged! Earlier this year, my work led me to New Zealand, where I had the incredible opportunity to observe real penguins, relatives of Lolo, during my fieldwork. So perhaps, in a distant yet meaningful way, I can also fulfill the role of Lolo's mother.

*I am grateful to Beahrs ELP, the Estonian Marine Institute, University of Tartu, the University of Tartu Foundation, the CWT Estonia (Kaleva Travel) Travel Scholarship, and the Kristjan Jaak Scholarship for their support.