"Last summer I came across a post with the headline "Disruptive minds needed." For a second I reflected if I considered myself a disruptive mind and the answer was evident. I looked at myself and my last year; I believe I am disruptive merely by the fact of taking the decision of leaving my comfort zone, moving abroad, and pursuing my Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in Circular Economy"  Natalia Aguelo Gaviria, Circle 3 student.

Last September, the  EU TalentOn science event took place in Leiden, the European City of Science 2022. The event was organised by the European Commission for young academics from different fields to come up with solutions for five different Mission Arenas.

Natalia wrote an application and was selected among 730 applicants together with 104 other change makers. Her team and herself placed 1st in the mission arena Climate neutral & Smartcities. The team pitched three times and showed that bringing out the best in them is both challenging and rewarding. "The hard-working days were a rollercoaster of emotions to say the least!" said Natalia. With circularity as the core of their innovative idea and the consideration of organic waste and biomaterials as part of the transition to a circular bioeconomy , they made it!