From conference traveller to tree planter
18 February 2020
Professor Gabriel Waksman from the research department of SMB found a personal way to overcome his eco-anxiety and combat his carbon emissions — by planting native woodlands.
During my almost 30 years as an academic and scientist, I have clocked up thousands of air miles. I have travelled from international conferences to grant-review panels, from invited seminars abroad to lectures at foreign institutions. These journeys emitted many tonnes of carbon dioxide and other pollutants.
Although frequently useful for communicating my results and finding inspiration for experiments, travelling has a significant environmental cost, which we must reduce.