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7 questions with Lena Fuldauer

13 January 2016

This week we put seven questions to Lena Fuldauer, a UCL Arts and Sciences BASc student.

Lena Fuldauer

Why are you interested in this subject and what do you plan to do in the future?

I'm studying an interdisciplinary arts and sciences degree where I basically pick modules from different disciplines, next to a language and various core modules. After my second year, I got really interested in the environment and sustainability and started taking environment-related modules from various disciplines.

This included environmental economics, environmental law and energy systems, as I believe that a low-carbon, sustainable future is the only way to go forward and ensure that future generations can continue living happily on our planet.

What is the most interesting thing you've done, seen or got involved with while at UCL?

The most interesting thing is my current job at the Greater London Authority (GLA) as an intern for the Low-Carbon Entrepreneur Challenge. It's great fun to do something that I feel actually makes a difference, and is so closely related to my studies and what I want to do in the future. 

It's extremely rewarding when you tell students about it and start discussing original ideas to reduce CO2 emissions in London that could win them £20,000 and possibly make them an entrepreneur with their own business in just a few years (as has been achieved by Arthur Kay, the 2012 winner from UCL).

Everyone in the environment team at the GLA is so friendly, which means I'm working in a really nice environment too, and having worked at City Hall is a great addition to my CV.

If you're reading this and you're interested in becoming an ambassador like me, just visit the GLA website.

Have you discovered any hidden gems during your time at UCL? 

I really love studying at Yumchaa - it's such a nice café with really good leaf tea and the most amazing chocolate brownie, which definitely makes you work harder. There is one close to Goodge Street Station and one in Camden that I would recommend.

I guess it's not that hidden anymore, but I also really like the new Cruciform Hub. Mostly medics go there, but it is such a nice place to work. The café in the Cruciform Building offers really cheap, good food which makes a study-break much better…

Give us your top three things to do/see/go to in London.

Camden Market: I absolutely love it - you can walk around and try all these different foods from all over the world, and by the time I've decided what I want, I'm usually already full - it's really worth a visit.

Duck and Waffle: Go there for brunch. It's quite expensive, but it's SO worth the visit - just make sure it's sunny so that you get to enjoy the views.

I'd also recommended walking to places if it's not too far - I've found the cutest cafés, shops and restaurants by walking, and it makes you enjoy London in a very different way.

If you were Provost for the day what one thing would you do?

It took me a while to think about what I would do - probably many different things to be honest. One thing I'd be very eager to do is for one day to have a zero-carbon emission day. That could include cycles outside classrooms, so you'd have to cycle to produce the energy that you want to use, etc.

I think it would be a great initiative to make students and staff aware of how dependant we all are on energy provision and how we could maybe easily live without certain appliances running constantly.

Who inspires you and why?

My mum and my closest friends! My mum is just amazing - how she manages life, her kindness and her charisma really inspire me. She taught me that most of the time it's not about the 'what' you know, do and say, but the 'how' - she showed me that a different attitude can really change everything.

My closest friends also really inspire me, just by their curiosity, joy and readiness to help in any situation. I think we often neglect the little things in life that make a difference, and my closest friends really do remind me of the importance of all these little gestures that can change my day.

What would it surprise people to know about you?

I'm absolutely awful at singing - never take me out to karaoke!