2024 School testimonial: Pan Ei Ei Phyoe

🇹🇿🇹🇿Just returned to England after an incredible two weeks at the CATER Schools in Arusha, Tanzania! I discovered this summer school through connections at the ICPAC and it was the perfect fit for my PhD work in Kenya, which focuses on bridging science and practical applications in water resources management. Organised by NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, the school is training a transdisciplinary approach to climate risk and action fostering to dive into a world of building climate resilience and adaptation.

A major highlight was the diversity of participants, ranging from climate scientists and practitioners in climate services and local adaptation to students keen on bridging disciplinary gaps—a critical, emerging role in the interface between science, policy, and practice. I am one of the later groups and seeing the integration of advanced science with practical action underscored the need for collaboration across fields to find holistic and sustainable local solutions.

The program included five comprehensive modules: practical climate science (with a focus on East Africa), navigating uncertainties and challenges, principles of co-production, political ecology of participatory methods, and, most engagingly, serious game exercises. The discussions on decolonizing current research practices were thought-provoking and essential.

We also visited a Maasai Boma to learn about real-life pastoralism, observing how climate change is already affecting traditionally marginalized communities through drought and water scarcity. The dam at the Boma, drying up due to siltation and land-use pressures from both agriculture and pastoralism, highlighted the complex, interconnected impacts of climate change and social conflict.

I will be heading to COP16Riyadh for the Desertification COP in December, where I’ll be diving into critical topics like land degradation, drought, and water scarcity. The CATER Schools experience has provided invaluable real-world insights that I look forward to bringing into the global discussions.

This transformative experience at CATER Schools has not only enriched my PhD journey but also reinforced my commitment to impactful, ethically mindful work in climate resilience and water management. Equipped with new perspectives and practical insights, I’m ready to contribute meaningfully to the global stage at COP16 in Riyadh and beyond, advocating for sustainable solutions that address the interconnected challenges of climate, land, and water.

Special thanks to my colleagues and fellow students who inspired and taught me so much, as well as to the incredible teachers of the CATER Schools. I’m proud to be an alumnus and carry forward the knowledge and connections I’ve gained. Looking forward to staying engaged with this remarkable community.

This text was originally posted on LinkedIn and is reproduced here with Pan Ei's permission.