Marta Solà: at TalTech I gained a lot of trust in my professionalism
Marta Solà from Environmental Engineering and Management MSc programme is originally from Barcelona. She graduated from Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) with the Bachelor’s in Biosystems Engineering.
During her Erasmus semester at Estonian University of Life Sciences Marta enjoyed Estonian higher education system and decided to come back to pursue a Master’s degree at TalTech.
About Marta’s experience in Estonia, contents of her programme and environmental issues in today’s interview.
How did you develop your interest in engineering field?
Starting from my Bachelor’s in Biosystems Engineering I understood that although it was not my initial plan I was on the right track with the engineering field. At the high school I took courses related to medicine and biology, but when I checked related Bachelor’s programmes I was seriously doubting if I was interested in following them.
At the same time I really liked Biology but also Math and Physics, which are all very suitable disciplines for engineering background. And so, upon my research I came across Biosystems Engineering programme at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) where I ended up studying. On the one hand, I really enjoyed the programme, but on the other I realized it was very broad, and after graduating I knew I would continue with the Master’s degree. By then I figured out the topics I enjoyed the most –environmental engineering, waste management, wastewater treatment and so on. I had some general overview courses on these topics and I thought that Master’s would help me to get specialized and open better job opportunities for me later on.
What is special about Environmental Engineering MSc at TalTech?
We have courses on waste management, air pollution, wastewater treatment, environmental policy and so on. So the programme is pretty broad, but at the same time it is exactly how TalTech is differentiating among other comparable programmes in Europe — here they offer a broad perspective.
For example, right now I am doing a business class, earlier I had couple of courses on policies, regulations, European frameworks.
This way if someone enjoys the topic but doesn’t see themselves working in the lab or directly in the field this programme is a good option. I felt this way myself as I was so burnt-out by so many laboratory classes in my Bachelor’s that it was hard for me to see myself working in the lab later in my job. In this sense, after TalTech’s Master’s you have a choice — go working specifically in the field or having an office job, for instance as a consultant.
When I was searching for internships there were many companies interested in having someone with environmental engineering background, because they need to work on the standards, learn in what way they produce emissions and what is a good practice in their kind of business. And this is exactly the kind of job offers I personally would be very interested in.
What do you like the most about education system at TalTech?
In Estonian system of higher education some things are done really well. For instance, TalTech has highly impressed me in the beginning of covid times. Because Estonia is a digitally advanced country here it felt like it was not a big deal at all to switch to online or hybrid format studies, while I know it was problematic in many other places.
Another thing I really like about TalTech is a wide range of people from different countries and backgrounds. I have a feeling that it is a very inclusive space, where every voice is heard.
I also really like how approachable professors are. In Spain I was used to overcrowded classes where nobody cared to even know your name. While here I know I can always contact my lecturers if I need to and they will try to help and support me.
Finally, I find it very fair that at TalTech exams are only a share of our final grade. This way projects, presentations, essays and reports we are having throughout the courses receive more value. And in my opinion these are exactly the types of activities that contribute the most to one’s professional development.
Some of the most valuable projects you had within your Master’s so far?
Since my Bachelor’s my primary interest has been in waste management. So in my Master’s I was very happy to take part in Theory and treatment of sludge and waste management course with professor Viktoria Voronova. Some classes of the course were theoretical, but then we also had a big, real-life based project for Loksa town, here in Estonia. Based on the data of their waste generation previous year we were to design a corresponding infrastructure. Thus, we have established how many and what type of households they had in the town, which would then, among other things, determine a number and type of trash bins they require. Further it is important to think about the whole process and how it is we want to separate trash— plastic and packaging or paper, do we want to collect bio-waste fraction separately or not. Based on that we need to design the treatment and all the cost involved. We have developed the whole big project along with the alternatives. Let’s say I want to do bio-waste separately, how much would it cost. It is obviously better for environment, but the economical component is also something to take into consideration. It was a really good prospective in that sense, and I have really enjoyed that course.
Having practical projects, based on real-life cases as a part of study curriculum is very important because it helps to gain trust in yourself and stop doubting they you don’t have what it takes to secure a good job in the future.
Is the environmental future bright or dim?
Overall, in my opinion we are going towards a positive change, but we have to be pushed on our way. For example, if European Union wouldn’t be setting environmental policies and pushing companies to do the changes they would just keep caring about their money and not the environment in so many cases. So although I say my attitude is positive I don’t believe that every company has this critical thinking by themselves. For sure you remember Trump’s famous quote “Climate change doesn’t exist ”. How is it possible that a prominent politician of such an influential country doesn’t believe in the evidence demonstrated by scientific community… Therefore, although I hope that by showing proves we can achieve something at the same time more steps have to be taken.
We also shouldn’t underestimate all those positive changes taking place. Say, at the university we have studied so many techniques of filtering air polluted by burning unrecyclable waste. And these were not accessible earlier. So actually already right now there are so many implemented mechanisms contributing to reverse the climate change.
What do you do in your free time in Tallinn?
I really like to go to the gym, it’s my way to escape and distress. I also really enjoy exploring Tallinn. So far my favourite place here is Japanese garden. Overall I find the whole Kadriorg area very enjoyable. I also like to have brunch or breakfast out on the weekends. In Estonia there are always new things to discover. Besides, Tallinn has a lot of neighborhoods and each one is so different from one another!
What do you like and don’t like in Estonia?
Sometimes I find it hard to interact with people not only from Estonia but from Northern Europe overall. The reason is that in Spain we are really loud, open and friendly, maybe sometimes even too much, while here people are so cold. Every time I come back to Estonia from Spain I have to adjust. We are not used to it in Spain and that’s why we are taking it as a bad thing. Once you learn how Estonians and their culture are you can understand why they are behaving the way they do. But in the beginning and sometimes even now it is still hard for me. I have to remind myself that nothing is wrong with me and that it is just the way they are.
Although I am from Spain I really like cold weather and enjoy the snow. Overall, I find one simply needs to have the right cloth and remember that Estonia is adapted to the cold climate. For example, in Barcelona when it rains the traffic is paralyzed, while here even during snowstorms life goes on uninterrupted.
Another issue in Estonia is the lack of light in cold seasons. Personally I am not really affected by that but I know of some people who really struggle, as it changes their mood and productivity.
I really like the nature here. It’s a small country, so before I moved I was not sure if I won’t be bored, but actually I always find things to do.
Another positive thing is the tendency among Estonians to become more and more open-minded towards foreigners. I think it’s really nice, because if everyone is allowed to contribute the country can only improve further.
Sustainability tips from Marta
● Use public transportation or even better have your own bicycle, walk where possible.
● Don’t be lazy about recycling properly. By separating trash we can give to so many materials a second life, while by mixing we might damage them and they will lose some properties, making them unrecyclable.
● Try to shop second hand where possible and overall reduce how much cloth you buy. If you feel you really want to buy something wait some 2–4 weeks first and check then if you still want to buy it.
● Mind your water consumption.
● Where possible try to buy without plastic (although I know it can be really tricky). Think about little steps — bringing your shopper bag to the supermarket, weighing fruit and vegetable without an extra plastic bag, and then attaching the barcode sticker right onto them. In some supermarkets you even have the option to scan it from the scales directly without even printing the sticker.
● Reuse. For example, I consume quite some jam, but then I can use the jars to store some other products.
● Don’t buy water in plastic bottles. And if you did bring them to the special collecting points, don’t just throw them to the trash.
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