When I wrote my introductory blog, I said that I would mainly support the Communications team. That was true, but it quickly became only part of the story.

 

During my internship at BRT, I ended up doing much more than I originally expected. Partly because opportunities kept appearing, and partly because I kept saying yes to them. What started with communication tasks gradually expanded into website content, visual materials, outreach activities, project discussions, and even research-related work. Every week seemed to bring something different, which was both challenging and exciting. Looking back, that variety became one of my favourite parts of the internship.

 

One of the biggest things I learned is that research doesn't happen in isolation. Before results become papers, presentations, or reports, there are people building partnerships, writing proposals, looking for funding, communicating ideas, and making research accessible to different audiences. Seeing that side of the process completely changed the way I think about scientific impact.

 

One experience that really captures this was a project I worked on with BRT postdoctoral researcher Dr. Bojana Petrovic. She had originally developed a research proposal as part of my internship, focused on the early detection of tropical forest degradation in the western Amazon using multi-sensor satellite data. Coming from the Peruvian Amazon and having worked with satellite imagery during my undergraduate studies, I immediately connected with the topic. It brought together many of the things that first made me interested in environmental research: technology, conservation, and the possibility of using data to better understand environmental change.

 

Things became even more interesting when Bojana came across the Expedice Neuron 2026 competition and decided to submit the proposal. What started as an internship project suddenly became something much bigger. I had the opportunity to support the application process and learn more about how research ideas evolve into competitive projects.

 

What I remember most, however, is the support from the BRT team. People took the time to review our proposal, give feedback on our presentation, make the video, and encourage us throughout the process. Although we ultimately finished in second place, it never felt disappointing. If anything, it showed me how much can be accomplished when people are willing to share their knowledge, time, and enthusiasm.

 

Beyond the projects themselves, being part of an international team was an experience in its own right. Working with people from different countries, disciplines, and backgrounds constantly reminded me that there is never only one way to approach a problem. Some of the best ideas came from casual conversations, brainstorming sessions, and discussions that started completely unrelated to work.

 

Looking back, the most valuable things I gained from this internship were not necessarily technical skills. When I first arrived in Prague, my plan was simple: focus on my studies, experience life in a new country, and make the most of my semesters. I certainly wasn't planning on joining an internship. But after realizing I had more free time than expected, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and give it a try.

 

I'm very glad I did.

 

This experience taught me to be more comfortable with uncertainty, to ask questions without worrying about having all the answers, and to trust that learning often happens while you're doing something, not before you start.

 

I expected to learn about research and science communication. I did. But I also learned about collaboration, creativity, and the value of saying yes to opportunities that weren't part of the original plan.

 

As my internship comes to an end, I leave with new skills, new perspectives, great memories, lasting friendships, and something I never expected when I first arrived at CZU: the opportunity to continue as part of the BRT team.

 

For that, and for everything I've learned along the way, I am incredibly grateful to BRT and to everyone who made this experience possible.