Spotlight on… Chiara Morfeo

What is your role and what does it involve?

I communicate UCL’s ambitious sustainability goals and progress and engage the UCL community in our activities via our websites, newsletters, social media channels and in-person events so that we can all make #ChangePossible together. Specifically, I engage with professional services staff via the Green Impact programme to make offices more sustainable. I also run online and in-person campaigns and events for students and engage with UCL’s academic community via my work on the UCL Climate Hub and the Generation One campaign.

How long have you been at UCL and what was your previous role?

I’ve been with UCL since April 2020, so almost two years now. Previously, I was a communications fellow at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Forestry and Timber Section in Geneva, working on forest related communications and engagement activities for the UNECE’s 56 member states. 

What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of?

UCL does amazing work on climate change and sustainability but given the size of the institution, it can sometimes be difficult to be aware of everything that’s happening. I’m most proud of my work developing UCL’s Climate Hub and Generation One campaign in collaboration with UCL Communications & Marketing (CAM) to showcase the incredible breadth of UCL’s climate action and to bring UCL’s climate community together via climate events, podcasts and a pledging challenge. Thanks to these collaborative projects, we increased UCL’s impact at COP26, ran climate events such as a Youth COP and a climate exhibition, produced a UCL-wide climate podcast and created a pledging series that translates UCL climate science into action. 

Tell us about a project you are working on now which is top of your to-do list

I’m currently running the 28 Days of Sustainability campaign – a four-week, community-led climate action programme that celebrates sustainability activities and events from across UCL. Join us for our bike-powered cinema, a talk decolonising palaeontology or volunteering in London’s big outdoors. 

We’re also in the final stages of publishing our Annual Sustainability report detailing the progress UCL has made on its sustainability goals. 

What is your favourite album, film and novel?

• Album: I don’t really have a favourite album but there’s a podcast I listen to non-stop for anyone who speaks French and is interested in learning more about racism: Kiffe ta race.
• Film: Not a movie but I love Fleabag, especially Season 2 – of course, I like the priest storyline, but above all I love it for the relationship between the two sisters. 
• Novel: The most absorbing series I’ve read recently is the Rivers of London series. It made me extra excited to be living in London. I also recently finished reading La petite dernière by Fatima Daas, which is amazing.

Who would be your dream dinner guests?

Lauren Bastide and the character Melody from the series Crashing.

What advice would you give your younger self?

If you get the chance to learn another language while at school – take it! Language studies get very expensive for adults.

What would it surprise people to know about you?

Despite my Italian name, I was actually born and raised in Germany.

What is your favourite place?  

Anywhere with a book under a slanted window when it’s raining outside, and the TK3 Beach Bar on ‘Las Redes’ beach in El Puerto de Santa Maria with brunch and the whole day still ahead of me.