Diana Adela Martin

Looking back, what did you most enjoy about your time at Bard College Berlin/what had the biggest impact on you while studying at Bard College Berlin?
The community I got to know, being fully imemrsed into the educational activities, continuing to discuss ideas from classes on the street, walking towards the cafeteria, dining, back on campus. I loved it.

How would you describe, in a nutshell, the experience of studying at BCB?
Rich in ideas and interesting conversations. An oasis of respite for dedicating to "the life of the mind" inside a vibrant city.

Write briefly about one of your courses that left a lasting impression on you.
I came to ECLA after doing an udnergrad degree in philosophy and logic in Bucharest. I liked to discover every course and each course had something special. If I were to highlight a few courses, these are the ones that brought together philosophy and literature, that sought to look at literary texts through the prisms of cultural theory or philosophy. Courses given on the apocalypse and how ending is a part both of biblical beliefs and literary texts (Judith Wolfe), on the rhetoric of King's James Bible (Catherine Toal) and the ontological dimensions of multiple selves in Fernando Pessoa's Book of Disquiet (Bruno Macaes).

How has BCB influenced the path you've taken since completing the program?
BCB (then called ECLA Berlin) opened my mind as to how values, liberal arts, and societal considerations can be integrated in education, and I contineud to pursue a career in education. In 2015 I started a PhD in engineering education research at Dublin Institute of Technology, where I investigated how ethics is being integrated in 23 engineering programmes in Ireland. Afterwards I went to TU Eindhoven (The Netherlands) for a postdoctoral position where my focus was on how external partners may be involved in educational activities and how this may impact engineering students' understanding of their societal responsibilities. After the postdoc, I moved to London for a permanent research position with the Centre for Engineering Education at UCL. So the interest in bringing the societal aspect in education remained with me after ECLA/BCB and turned into a career that I love. Big thanks to everyone for the experience.

Where are you now and what are you doing?
I am a Senior Researcher at University College London in the UK, working in the area of engineering ethics education and capacity development in engineering education research. As voluntary roles, I am the co-chair of the Ethics SIG of SEFI - The European Society of Engineering Ethics Education, Europe Board representative in REEN - Rsearch in Engineering Education Network, and the Associate editor of the journal Science and Engineering Ethics and of the European Journal of Engineering Education.

Any advice you would give to students considering BCB?
BCB attracts many bright and very smart people. I would advise to choose humbleness and kindess in daily interactions over wanting to be or appear the smartest. It will lead, I think, to a more enriching experience and the possibility of pleasant surprises.