Scholarships that are helping to change the world
Part one: Rebuilding Brazil’s environmental profile
The health of our planet is one of the defining issues of our time. From rising temperatures to extreme weather events, biodiversity decline to water scarcity, Oxford research is playing a critical role in understanding what is happening to the world and why.
Training the next generation of experts in subjects related to the environment is also key to tackling these growing challenges. Thanks to the support of donors, some of the world’s brightest minds are able to undertake postgraduate study at Oxford and develop the skills and knowledge needed to pursue careers that contribute directly to planetary health.
In this new series we meet Oxford graduates and former scholarship-holders who have gone on to do just this, making a lasting impact in the process.
First up, Priscilla…
Priscilla Santos: ‘I see my future in rebuilding Brazil’s profile on climate environmental issues’
Priscilla is a climate change expert with a long track record of working on policies to reduce deforestation, and fostering climate finance and sustainable development. Her passion is to support her home country of Brazil and she describes herself as ‘a woman from the Amazon’.
I came to Oxford to study an MSc in Nature, Society and Environmental Policy and received two scholarships: one from St Anne’s College and another from the Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust. One of the main reasons for choosing Oxford was because they offered scholarships.
Oxford was so far from reality for me, I couldn’t even imagine what it would be like to be there. It was so different in every way from universities in Brazil.
The application process has changed since my time at Oxford (I graduated in 2013). There are mentors out there now and the University is reaching out with online sessions to discuss application forms and the process to apply for scholarships. It makes the whole procedure much easier to understand.
I advise young people not to be daunted by the application process but to play around with the questions first and get used to them before applying — it is helpful that I can offer this guidance based on my own experience. I am now a mentor for Youth Climate Leaders, an international network helping young people who want to transition to a climate career, or who are graduating now and want to work in climate change.
Studying at Oxford was a game changer career wise. It is a brand that follows you wherever you go, it opens doors, gives access.
I am very happy with the technical knowledge I gained at Oxford and the training I received in environmental policy. The fact that I have studied at Oxford University has opened doors for me. After graduating, I was invited to work as a senior advisor to the Secretariat of Strategic Affairs under the Brazilian presidency, focusing on adaptation to climate change and long-term planning. This was an amazing experience and it demonstrates the power of an Oxford education; I wouldn’t have considered applying for such a position, so to be offered it was a great honour.
I’m currently working for the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) in Italy. It’s a fixed-term contract in climate and energy practice to implement a joint advocacy strategy with WWF national offices. I’m continually assessing submissions to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change on finance, gender and nature-based solutions.
When you build a strong career, you can take it with you like a backpack; I can take it wherever I’m based in the world.
I am committed to supporting my home country of Brazil. Currently, I am Brazil’s Evaluation Lead, coordinating an independent evaluation of the Climate and Land Use Alliance’s agreement with the Norwegian International Climate and Forests Initiative.
In addition, I have been involved in the mid-term evaluation of the benefit sharing mechanisms in the Amazon Fund — the largest climate finance mechanism in Brazil — and a risk assessment of the Principles for Responsible Investment’s portfolio. This contributed to their advocacy strategy and to the Investor Policy Dialogue on Deforestation initiative in Brazil.
I have also conducted a stakeholder mapping of influential actors in the finance, agriculture, forestry and other land use sectors, and their potential to contribute to a mapping of climate solutions for Latin American cities, aligned with green recovery plans.
I see my future in rebuilding Brazil’s profile on climate environmental issues. It is a challenging period for Brazil where policies and institutions are being dismantled and it will take a long time to recover from what has been done to environmental policy and Brazil’s reputation. I work with different stakeholders at different levels, from working with investors and banks to dealing with mayors, municipal level and state government, and NGOs.
I have a strong belief in network building. I see so many powerful and influential people who have studied at Oxford and networks are needed to bring those people in high-powered strategic positions around the world together, to interact and facilitate a dialogue on climate policy for the benefit of their countries.
Oxford gave me the perception that progress can be achieved through different perspectives — impact can be achieved through different stakeholders.
