Daniela Bermudez
I was born in Bogotá and lived there for the first eleven years of my life, until my family moved to the United States. In the last few years, we moved between several states, including Vermont, Texas, Arkansas, New Jersey and finally, Pennsylvania. From there, I moved to Spain when I enrolled at IE University. Away from academia, my hobbies include baking, cooking, swimming, reading and practicing yoga. But my biggest passion is learning more about the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary and Chicxulub, the massive asteroid that caused the extinction of dinosaurs 66 million years ago.
"The Bachelor in Environmental Science for Sustainability provides me with insight into how to turn concerns over climate change into solutions."
Gaining a global perspective to influence environmental policy globally
Daniela Bermudez is a woman on a mission. She’s set her sights on the pinnacle of her profession, aiming to raise awareness of the inequalities brought about by climate change and other environmental issues—and she wants to do so by building a career at the United Nations.
Achieving such an ambitious target requires a solid foundation. Daniela is taking the first steps toward her goal by pursuing cutting-edge environmental education with the Bachelor in Environmental Sciences for Sustainability at IE University. “I chose this university due to its innovative approach to teaching and modern ideology of combining technology with theory in the classroom,” she explains.
For Daniela, environmental science is a discipline where practical experience is essential. Even before joining the program, she spent a lot of time in the field conducting research into deformations caused by mega-earthquakes. These evidence-gathering expeditions have taken her across several states in the southeastern United States, as well as European countries like Croatia, France and Italy. The samples she helped to collect now form the basis of a project exploring how materials ejected during crater formations have spread around the planet, which will be the topic of two upcoming academic papers in prestigious professional journals.
So when she joined the Bachelor in Environmental Science for Sustainability, Daniela was excited to continue working in field-like settings. By learning hands-on, the program allows students like her to quickly apply new insights to the real, contemporary problems facing the world. She appreciates the program for providing real-world opportunities to turn her concerns about climate change into solutions, complementing her prior field experiences. Additionally, it’s helping her gain a global perspective, thanks to hearing firsthand accounts from her classmates about how environmental challenges affect communities differently around the world.
The Bachelor in Environmental Science for Sustainability is delivered at our beautiful and historically important facility in Segovia. A city known for its lush greenery and stunning natural landscapes, Daniela describes her experience studying there as “magnificent.” She’s connected with diverse students from a wide range of programs, fully immersing herself in the IE Community. “I feel very fortunate to be in buildings with such a rich history and to be surrounded by teachers and peers filled with passion for their subjects,” she says. Meanwhile, activities organized by IE University’s Student Government have helped her make friends quickly, smoothing her transition from home to university.
Looking forward, Daniela already knows what she wants to do after completing her undergraduate studies: earn a master’s degree in political science and enter the world of environmental policy. These goals will help her get closer to her ultimate ambition of working at the UN. In the meantime, she plans to use her time here wisely, exploring business through the lens of sustainability while learning how to develop companies that coexist happily with both local communities and the environment.
This aim aligns perfectly with IE University’s own values, which influence much of the program’s content. Daniela admits that her favorite class so far is on Society, Land and Environment. Not only does it combine her need to understand environmental concerns with social equality, but it also illustrates how we can strive for a world where humans live in harmony with nature. As an unexpected benefit, the course has inspired a new passion for environmental justice in Daniela, driving home humanity’s unique responsibility to protect our natural resources.
“I want to help create a future in which the next generations can thrive without limitations,” she concludes. We know her career will do exactly that, ensuring Daniella plays a pivotal role in fostering sustainability and meaningful climate action worldwide.
