Thaine Herman Assumpção

So far what have been the highlights of your study?
The highlights of my study has been the real case studies in addition to understanding how models work and how to apply this information to actual situations. This combination of theory and practice has been invaluable.  The combination of the software and program developments and the understanding of how to apply them have been so rewarding.

Why Did you Pick UNESCO-IHE for your Studies
I always wanted to come and learn in Europe but at the same time recognising that the study environment here is international. I have contact with other students from Ethiopia, Iran, and China and they have different and novel views to feed into the Dutch expertise. Although we have great researchers in Brazil, there is a lack of real world application within the Government departments, so I am fortunate to be able to learn from outside and bring my skills back home to Brazil to adapt and apply.

How has UNESCO-IHE influenced your future, your career?
Hugely; hydroinformatics is a very complex field with intricate models that rely on mathematics and physics to create the models and an awareness of social and environmental conditions in which to implement them. The knowledge that I have gained here I hope to take with me into a PHD to further develop my career. I want to do research, but furthermore apply this research in an effort to solve the real life problems that we encounter in Brazil.

How was the life in Delft?
Amazing! I loved it. I especially loved the bike. I have never been enamoured with cars and the opportunity to move independently and safely on my bicycle was a revelation. There are so few opportunities to do this freely in the world that one should never take the pleasure for granted. The bike gave me social mobility and I was able to meet up with other students who travelled similarly and share their cultures and food: (Especially the Nepalese spicy dishes!) Delft is beautiful. It has been like a movie.

Would you recommend UNESCO-IHE to prospective students?
Absolutely and without hesitation; I want all my friends (I graduated in Environmental engineering) to come. I am convinced that what I have learned here and what others would learn would be invaluable back home in Brazil, or any country for that matter! Water is so important to us all. Global climate change will influence rainfall patterns and science will lead the politicians to act. Water management will be the peace maker of the future as we scramble for finite resources. Water must unite the world not divide it.