Personal Statement We live in a time of incredible challenges. Population explosion – within a very short time, 8 billion people will live on our planet Climate change - sea levels are rising faster than expected, storms are getting stronger and more frequent, deserts are spreading and resources are becoming scarce. Scary prospects! But we also live in a world of incredible possibilities. Every day the limits of our technical capabilities are pushed further. I firmly believe that if we use these skills wisely and in the interests of a better world, we will be able to master the challenges.