My name is Ciara Kristensen and I am pursuing my master’s degree in Media Studies: Digital Cultures at Maastricht University. I’m originally from Northern Ireland but I’ve arrived here from Scotland, where I have lived in a small coastal town for the past five years, earning my bachelor’s degree in Film Studies from the University of St Andrews.
I’ve always been interested in environmental activism and climate change, and I was able to translate this passion by organising the Green Film Festival during my time in Scotland. I think new digital media are the most prevalent and impactful way of highlighting ecological and social issues relating to climate change.
After graduating, I spent a year managing the rollout of Covid-19 testing centres in my corner of Scotland. Other than the wastefulness of resource distribution in the sector, I was shocked by the disuse (or misuse) of media channels in spreading information and awareness about the testing resources available to the Scottish public. It made me really consider how omnipresent and powerful our informational media is, in a way I hadn’t fully appreciated before.
That’s why I chose this programme, and that’s why I’m excited to share my thoughts and reflections on these topics throughout the course. You can see a short introduction about me below, as I am also the student ambassador for the course.
Ciara