Biography
Global Engineering for Development, Environment and Society
School of Environment and Society
Student Ambassador from April 2025 to March 2026
Hello! I’m Manuela from Colombia, and I’m pursuing my master’s degree in Global Engineering for Development, Environment and Society (GEDES). I’m also a part of the Abe Lab at Ookayama Campus. My research is about consumer and business perspectives on ethical sourcing in the coffee industry. Back in Colombia, after completing my bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering, I decided to do a master’s degree in Development Practice (from the Business Department). It was there that I realized engineers often require more management and leadership abilities. After all, at the end of the day, we want to convince others that our ideas are worth pursuing, right? This is why I decided to apply to the GEDES Program here at Science Tokyo. The curriculum was interesting, my laboratories’ wide approach connected with my mindset, and the university’s deep focus on research was an interesting mix for me. As for life in Japan, coming from such a different culture, the initial shock was there, but after setting my goals, taking things easy, and opening my mind (and language) abilities, life in Tokyo is going well. Nice to meet you, and I hope I can help you to make life a little easier as well!
