Ida Hartwig

What is your background?
I hold a bachelor’s degree in Fashion and Design Management and gained professional experience in the cosmetics industry. Before starting LUMES, I worked as a project manager in research & development, where I had the opportunity to contribute to a corporate sustainability strategy.

Why did you choose the LUMES programme?
The interdisciplinary nature of the program was one of the main reasons I applied. I wanted to step back from the corporate world and understand the bigger picture, connecting the natural and social sciences. I also appreciated the international environment and the opportunity to join the program with a non-traditional background, which brings together a diversity of perspectives.

What academic and personal skills have you gained?
My biggest takeaway has been learning to collaborate in diverse, intercultural groups. Besides that, I gained many practical skills such as critical thinking across disciplines and applying a systems perspective.

How would you describe the courses and the study environment?
The courses provide a broad introduction to sustainability science, covering a wide range of themes. Each one opened a completely new field for me, which was both challenging and eye-opening. In the third semester, there is room to tailor your studies to your own interests through electives. The study environment is very supportive: professors are approachable, and you can ask any question. At the same time, LUMES is an uplifting and caring group of people. The diversity of perspectives makes the learning experience both challenging and deeply enriching.

What did you write about in your thesis?
My thesis focuses on the challenges of sharing Traditional Knowledge for sustainable development. I explore how existing governance often marginalises Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC), and how Traditional Knowledge Commons might offer an alternative approach by promoting collective governance and more equitable knowledge sharing.

What advice would you give students starting the programme?
Stay open-minded and don’t doubt yourself—you are here for a reason. Some courses may feel difficult at first, but others will come more naturally to you, and there is always a lot to take away.

What sustainability issue do you care mostly about?
Social justice in the context of sustainable transformation

Describe LUMES in three words.
Community, kindness, enriching.