It’s Geography Awareness Week 2022 (14th – 19th November). This year, our theme (in keeping with the AAG!) is A World of Possibilities: Career Paths in Geography. We’ve teamed up with Geographers working in all kinds of exciting roles outside of academia to highlight the diverse places that a degree in Geography can take you – we’ll be posting profiles of these Geographers in industry, with a particular focus on early career Geographers, all week.
Next up in our series is Vittoria Semplici, who works as a Consultant for the Science, Technology & Innovation Unit of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Vittoria studied geography after a Master’s degree in Environmental Law – having studied Law as an undergraduate and postgraduate, she undertook an M.A. in Environment, Society and Development (MA- ESD) at the University of Galway’s Department of Geography. Vittoria was kind enough to share her thoughts on her career path in Geography and tips for current Geography students thinking about a career outside of academia with us (thanks Vittoria!).
Studying geography:
What were your most and least favourite things about studying geography?
I came from a course of study in law (in Italy) which had formed me very much in terms of theory and knowledge of very technical information, fostering a ‘forma mentis’ for memorising information and developing oratorical qualities.
On the geography course (in Ireland), I particularly enjoyed being able to explore more practical aspects of dealing with environmental and sustainable development issues. I was able to study concepts such as Environmental and Climate Justice or environmental disaster risks and preparedness, from a historical, social and managerial perspective. As well as learning about the functioning of international organisations and non-governmental organisations, their relationships and their roles in developing policies and projects on the ground.
Do you think there are any unique advantages of having studied geography for your work or the sector that you work in?
I think having studied geography as part of the ESD master’s program, prepared me concretely for this work. It introduced me to concepts, terms, and views that I did not have before and that I find myself using daily in my work.
Your career:
When, where, why, and how did you start looking for a career outside academia as a geographer?
I applied for an internship at the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals under the United Nations while attending the MA ESD, in 2017. I was lucky enough to see this internship evolve into a full-fledged job opportunity. I started looking for a career outside academia very naturally, because I’ve always dreamt of dedicating my life to environmental conservation, so I simply looked for early career opportunities at relevant related institutions.
Why did you choose to work where you’re working now? What led you to the job/role that you’re in?
I have always dreamed of being able to dedicate myself to the protection of the environment, and in particular biodiversity. I, therefore, specialised in international environmental law and with my master’s degree in geography I increased my scientific and policy knowledge on the subject. I could say that my background prepared me perfectly for the work I came to do, dealing with environmental protection. At the same time, what led me to do this job was also a natural inclination, lots of passion and dedication for these issues since I was a child, and a certain amount of good luck.
What is your current job title/role, and how long have you worked there?
I’ve worked as a Consultant for the Science Technology and Innovation Unit of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) for the past two years, supporting, among other tasks, the Science-Policy Interface (SPI) of the Convention.
What does an average work week look like for you? Who might like to do or be suitable for the roles that you do?
My work week is an ordinary full-time work week, starting at 9 a.m. and ending at 6 p.m. Most of the time we prepare policy and communication documents, material to support projects, and we try to facilitate meetings and dialogue between the various governments to advance achieving common goals for environmental protection and support the dialogue between science and policy. Someone who is well prepared on these issues and who genuinely cares about environmental protection and sustainable development. The ideal background can vary a lot: geography, biology, international law, international relations are all good and formative disciplines for this work.
What are some skills that you developed from studying geography that you use in your job now, or that you think are transferable to other types of work?
The qualities I have developed most by studying geography that are useful for my job, in addition to specific knowledge, are critical thinking, an awareness of having to reflect on the complexity of situations, and a better understanding of world geopolitics.
Advice for current or prospective Geography students:
What would you advise someone currently studying geography who doesn’t want to go into academia to do now – what would you suggest they study? Or things to do to build up their CV?
Based on my experience, I think a master’s degree in geography provides a practical but general knowledge of many topics. I think it can be useful to go deeper into an area, a topic, to specialise in specific aspects that make the CV less generic. I believe that while increasing the levels of study, the preparation should be refined towards something specific that makes one an ‘expert’ in that sector/topic. Geography can open many doors, but I think we have to choose which ones we want to explore more and work on those.
What advice would you give to students graduating from geography who want to enter employment outside of academia?
Try to understand in which specific field they would like to work (environment, human rights, sustainable development, urban development, planning…), at which level (governments, international organisations, NGOs, field work) and to try to address the thesis or further studies in this direction, integrating knowledge also from different disciplines to specialize at the best their expertise as best as possible.
A massive thanks to Vittoria for sharing her story with us – check out our blog and social media for more #GeoWeek2022 career stories!
GSI PECN 