Preparing for a better future – socially distanced
13/11/2020

“Future Food Sustainability MSc – Cranfield University” – was one of the Google results that I received when searching for master’s programs that would interest me. According to my friends, this was me as a master’s program. Among my friends and family, I have been known to be the person who finishes my friend’s plate to avoid food waste and the one who stands in the supermarket for ten minutes debating whether it was acceptable to buy blueberries from South America. I applied, got accepted– but was still a little sceptical whether this was really the best path, the best school, the best country for me.

Now I have been in Cranfield for more than six weeks, and even though I have spent the last four years in a vibrant, young, lively American city, this already feels like home. I cannot deny that it might seem like I live in the middle of nowhere. But honestly, in the time of a global pandemic, the middle of nowhere is not the worst place to be. Because I consider myself an “outgoing introvert” (meaning I am eager to meet new people and make new experiences, but do need my peace and quiet), I live by myself. However, in the first couple weeks, I have met quite a few people through activities, like running or cycling, or through my program. Socially distanced, of course.

Obviously, the global pandemic has posed some challenges, when it comes to meeting people or doing certain things, such as throwing big parties. Some other unexpected challenges include: not getting on the bus (that only comes every hour on the weekends) to go grocery shopping in Milton Keynes, or sitting in class with foggy glasses because of the required face mask, trying to decipher the PowerPoint slide.
However, while many of my friends go to universities that completely switched to online classes, going to class and seeing the faces of my class mates and the professor is something that I appreciate tremendously. Cranfield has done a great job managing the Covid-situation so far and, despite the lockdown, nothing much has changed.
And there is a light at the end of the tunnel, right? Future trips to London, further exploring Bedford and Milton Keynes. Who knows what the future will hold. One thing is for sure: future food sustainability will remain important in the near future and my time here at Cranfield will hopefully prepare me well to contribute to a better world.
Categories & Tags:
Leave a comment on this post:
You might also like…
Creating Impact: Women in STEM Scholars discuss their journey and aspirations
We recently had the opportunity to catch up with some of your Women in STEM scholars to discuss what receiving the scholarship means to them, their experiences studying and living in the UK, their ...
Getting involved in outreach activities improved me as a Cranfield PhD Researcher
I spent an amazing three years as a PhD student with the Plant Science Laboratory, researching the metabolic and physiological changes in mango ripening. As a Cranfield PhD student I had many opportunities outside ...
Academic spotlight interview: Hannah Allen
From Crime Scenes to Classrooms: Hannah Allen’s Unique Path in Forensic Science “Forensics is about finding justice for victims, ensuring the guilty are prosecuted, and protecting the innocent.” Forensic Investigation MSc Course Director, Hannah ...
Automotive Engineering MSc alumnus Ghazi Raad on the impact of Cranfield on his career
Ghazi Raad is a Senior Innovation Engineer at AQA. He graduated from Cranfield University with an MSc in Automotive Engineering in 2023, after also completing a Pre-master’s in engineering in 2022. ...
Running a peer analysis in Fame
If you need to compare a UK company’s financial performance against that of other companies, Fame is a great place to start. This database contains the financial accounts of over 8.5 million public and private ...
From medical robotics to space exploration: My journey at Cranfield University
My name is Praveen Elavazhagan, and I’m from India. I recently completed my MSc in Robotics at Cranfield University, graduating in 2024. My journey to Cranfield, and now into a PhD, ...