SETAC Europe Student Advisory Council Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary
Mirco Bundschuh (SAC chair 2006–2009), Markus Brinkmann (SAC chair 2009–2011), Jochen Zubrod (SAC chair 2011–2013)
When the invitation to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the SETAC Europe Student Advisory Council (SAC) by writing an article for the SETAC Globe landed in our inbox, several thoughts crossed our minds. The first one? “Wow, we really got old!”
So, we decided to join forces and share some highlights from the early days of SAC – you could say from birth (2006) to primary school (2013) – the first steps of a very long journey. And instead of each of us writing separate articles, we joined forces for three reasons: Let’s be honest, no one would read three boring articles (we’re not even sure anyone will read this one! 😊). Second, let's call it German efficiency – we thought it would save time (spoiler alert: We’ve been wrong before, and this was no exception). Third, our friendship. Our shared passion for improving the situation of students within SETAC Europe more than 13 years ago sparked friendships that not only survived but thrived across continents. Some might call it Stockholm syndrome… We’ll let you decide.
How It All Began
The first steps toward establishing the SAC were taken in 2006. Fun fact: The idea didn’t actually come from students; it was SETAC leadership and members who encouraged us to think about how to improve the student experience. For that, we owe huge thanks to Fred Haimbach and Ralf Schulz (and apologies to anyone else we’ve forgotten – our memories aren’t what they used to be!).
Back then, the concerns of students were surprisingly similar to today: better networking opportunities (including with experienced colleagues), skill development and career guidance. We experimented with all sorts of initiatives, including career talks, student-only seminars and mentor lunches – some of which still exist today in updated formats at SETAC events. We benefited enormously from the SETAC network and especially from the support of the SETAC office in Brussels.
Our Biggest Wins
From our perspective, two achievements stand out:
- A permanent seat on the SETAC Europe Board of Directors, giving students a voice in shaping the society
- The Young Environmental Scientists (YES) meetings, which started in Europe and have since traveled the globe
An Incredible Team Effort
These successes were only possible because of the entire SAC. Many incredible people, many of whom we’re lucky to call friends today, worked tirelessly to advance these ideas. We’re grateful for the countless memories that helped us grow and, hopefully, contributed to SETAC’s growth as well.
Happy 20th birthday, SAC! Here’s to a fantastic (science) party in Maastricht!
Contact: [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected]