The UPWATER project stands at the forefront of addressing critical issues related to groundwater contamination and scarcity. Eike Marie Thaysen, project manager and researcher, offers her perspective on the challenges and opportunities within this multidisciplinary and international project.
A dual role in UPWATER
As both project manager and researcher, Eike plays a crucial role in ensuring the success of the UPWATER project. The project management role requires continuous effort to make the project run as smoothly as possible by unremittingly foreseeing and working to prevent problems. This creates the base for that the UPWATER researchers can live up to what was promised in the proposal: the creation of an impressive toolbox to increase groundwater quality.
“Project management is of interest to me because I enjoy working with people and am interested in creating succesful work dynamics that lead projects to success,” she explains. “I have previously worked in many different international contexts and interdisciplinary teams and always enjoyed being a team leader. However, I had not previously managed a project of this scale. Becoming the project manager of UPWATER was a unique opportunity for me to generate some more experience in this area while at the same time granting me time to continue to pursue my research activity.”
On the research side, Eike is directly involved in generating new field data on groundwater contamination in the Besòs Case Study, which with six monitoring campaigns, features the amplest monitoring effort within UPWATER. Research is her passion, and the topic of groundwater contamination and scarcity could not be more pressing and timely.
Cultural lessons in an international and interdisciplinary team
The UPWATER project has 13 partners from seven countries and around 50 team members spanning various disciplines. Working across borders brings both exciting opportunities and unique challenges, particularly when leading a diverse team of experts from various cultural and scientific backgrounds. For Eike, navigating these complexities has been an essential part of her role in UPWATER.
“Managing a highly international and interdisciplinary team taught me a few interesting learnings about myself and how different styles of management are perceived in different countries,” she explains. “I am of German nationality and have a quite frank and direct nature; I am certainly not shy to address conflicts. Confronting directly however is not everyone’s cup of tea, and I have learned to be more sensitive to cultural differences when tackling conflicts.
Also, when partners from different scientific and cultural backgrounds don’t agree or don’t understand each other, it is my role to mediate. By taking the time to speak with each partner individually, I am able to translate the concerns and bridge the communication gap, helping both sides to find a common ground.”
Creating an evaluation framework for governance and policy options
As a project manager, it is Eike’s task to make sure all milestones are reached in the UPWATER project. However, some milestones carry more weight than others. The creation of an evaluation framework for different groundwater contamination technologies and preventive measures, which is happening as we write, is amongst the very central steps in the project:
“This framework will help us tie together the different effective technological and preventive options we developed to improve the quality of groundwater and protect it for the future, with the final aim to write a clear, evidence-based governmental guidance protocol. I see this framework and the subsequent use of it as the crucial stepping stone towards our final goal of ensuring long-term improvements in the water quality.”
A Call to Action
In reflecting on our collaborative journey towards a Water Smart Society, Eike offers a piece of advice for all citizens: “We can all make an impact. Start treating water as the precious resource it is. Never waste it. Think before you flush things down the toilet, and choose to buy ecological personal care products that do not harm the environment.”
The UPWATER project is not just a scientific endeavour but a collaborative effort to address one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time. Together, Eike and the other UPWATER team members are paving the way towards a more sustainable water future.