Fellows' Stories

Pavel's Story

Pavel VarginPavel Vargin, Russia

What was the main benefit for you?

Among the other issues of Cohort 12 I would like to mention following. It is very difficult for many people to discuss some problems (even if many of them could influence everyone, particularly - climate change) with people from different countries and sectors: mass media, business, science, government and non-government organization and etc. This problem of cross-sectors communication could be explained by many factors, particularly by difference in education level and professional framework.

I guess for many young professionals it is difficult often to overcome this problem, because most of them are usually limited by framework of their sectors. However, this communication problem is not new! A lot of things are already done in this direction.

The LEAD program helps us to find the solution to this problem. I think it is great and could be useful for each of the Fellows in their professional activity.

Personally, I guess results of the LEAD program could be separated in short-term and long-term.

  • Short term: I am very grateful to LEAD - I got a lot of new information, contacts, ideas and impressions.
  • Long-term results I think could influence my activity over the years ahead.

One of the interesting tasks for me now is how to improve understanding for the public in Russia of national and international atmospheric researches which are directly related to global and regional climate change.

What is your best memory of Cohort 12?

I liked very much a very interesting team trip organized by LEAD-CIS to Mongolia, and the unforgettable international session in Indonesia.

Thanks to my activity in science I have an opportunity to travel a lot. However trips in the framework of the LEAD program are an absolutely unique chance to spread competence in different issues and to meet many interesting people.

Would you recommend the LEAD programme to other people and what would you say to them?

Definitely, I would recommend the LEAD program. LEAD is a good opportunity:

  • to spread your communication skills;
  • to learn more about different complicated but very important issues like sustainable development, climate change etc.;
  • to contact with many interesting young but well educated people from different countries;
  • to participate in very interesting trips;
  • to improve your English, particularly to get an experience of talking with people with very different pronunciation.