With only 2 days at ICTA remaining for Olivia and I, we held a final meeting with some of our advisors. In attendance was Joan, Marti, Mariea, Olivia, Anna via Skype, and myself. Olivia and I each discussed the current state of our research, presented some of our preliminary results, and outlined our next steps in our projects. Our advisors provided useful critiques of our work, provoking new considerations and adaptations for both of our methods. We may be leaving Barcelona but it is clear our ICTA advisors intend to remain apart of our projects, providing guidance and resources from overseas.
After our morning meeting, Kelley and I enjoyed one of the many incredible seminars frequently held at ICTA. Dr. Tom Pedersen, a guest speaker from the University of Victoria gave a riveting 90 minute lecture on British Columbia's climate action saga. We learned a great deal about a variety of topics: natural gas processing, the spread of the pine beetle, the importance of leadership in fragile political landscapes, and the sometimes bizarre and illogical nature of human perception and behavior. These topics provided the framework for understanding a carbon tax adopted by British Columbia, who's early success in reducing emissions has since sputtered. Coincidentally, on the same day of our lecture, British Columbia's legislature conducted a confidence vote that could result in a shift in power that would likely change the fate of the carbon tax once more. In the hours since the lecture, I can now report that the B.C. Liberal party has lost its control over the province and a new premier has been selected. It will be interesting to see how climate action in British Columbia changes in the future.
I'd like to say thank you to everyone at ICTA who has made the last month and a half so great! This has been such a great opportunity for me and I am very jealous of Kayla, Sarai, and Kelley who will be staying here for more of the summer. In my time here I have learned a great deal on topics too diverse and numerous to count. The advisors at ICTA make for one of the funnest and friendliest work environments I have ever encountered. I will miss it.
Thank you ICTA!!!
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