Spotlight on a Young Researcher: Imanol Ugalde from ICLEI

Meet Imanol, a researcher at the ICLEI European Secretariat and an expert in the Resilience and Climate Adaptation team. At I4C, he is currently working on the analysis of knowledge networks.

What do you do on Impetus4Change? Is it the first project you’ve worked on?

In Impetus4Change, I am involved in Work Package 1, which focuses on analysing European knowledge networks. We collected information on how these networks operate and how climate information is managed and utilised by their members and stakeholders. We analysed the ICLEI Europe knowledge network as a case study, where I served as the main contact point for gathering all necessary information from ICLEI to support the development of the Agent-Based Model and to conduct the analysis of knowledge networks in other tasks within the Work Package.

In addition to Impetus4Change, I am involved in the following European projects and initiatives:

• UP2030, which aims to use urban planning and design to build climate-neutral, just, and resilient cities;
• RescueME, which focuses on enhancing the resilience of coastal cultural landscapes in Europe;
• Climate Resilience for Communities, which supports vulnerable communities in Izmir affected by climate change;
• FairFuture, which recently started and aims to develop and test inclusive adaptation measures tailored to local vulnerabilities with a particular emphasis on just resilience;
• and the ICLEI Ukraine Roadmap, which supports Ukrainian cities in achieving their sustainability and recovery goals. 

What is the most interesting thing you learned so far working on Impetus4Change?

I found it very interesting to discover the wealth of information that cities generate on climate change adaptation. Personally, I wasn’t aware of this before, and now I have a better understanding of how local governments can play a key role in promoting and achieving climate adaptation goals. I was also fascinated by the latest Adaptalab held in Barcelona, and by how many great ideas can emerge when people from different areas of expertise come together.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? What are you working on? 

I still feel new to the working world, and I have to admit that I don’t yet know exactly where I’ll be in five years. However, my motivation is to contribute to just causes, such as the fight against climate change, and I hope to continue working in this field.

What did you want to be when you were growing up? 

My family has always been connected to sport, especially esku pilota, a form of Basque pelota. I think every child who starts playing Basque pelota dreams of becoming a professional player one day, and that dream also crossed my mind at some point. But when one of my brothers achieved it, it felt as though my own dream had come true when I saw him playing on television. From that moment on, I began to think about other things that inspired and motivated me, such as seeking solutions to the climate challenge, which ultimately led me to where I am today.

Who is your science idol? Someone you wish you could have a conversation with (from the past or contemporary).

I don’t have a specific scientific idol, but I have always been deeply impressed by the story and work of the mathematician Alan Turing. He exemplifies the patience and determination required to succeed in a challenging context and under pressure. Despite the profound significance of his work, he did not receive the recognition he deserved until many years later.

Which Impetus4Change research outcome/WP/expert (other than your own) are you most excited to learn about or collaborate with? 

I am very excited to see the results of the extensive work done on climate predictions and hazard assessments in Europe. While I am not an expert in this field, I believe this data is essential for enabling local and regional governments to make informed decisions and develop robust climate adaptation plans.

Have you read any interesting books/articles recently that really made you think? 

The last book I started reading is titled “Four Thousand Weeks”, and it offers an intriguing reflection on society’s pressing need to make the most of our time. The book challenges the idea of being constantly productive, encouraging the reader to recognise that our time on Earth is limited and to approach life with a different perspective.

If Impetus4Change held a party, which song would you request from the DJ? 

Definitely a difficult choice! But I would choose the song “Txanpon baten truke” by Alaitz eta Maider, two artists from my hometown. It’s a song you can hear at any popular festival in the Basque Country. We have also played it at some company dinners at ICLEI, and I have to say that people really liked it!