I’m Valentina Pauna and I want to leave the planet better than how I found her. The idea of The Science of Working Together came from my research, educational, and life experiences. As an undergraduate student, I worked as a research intern for a chemistry laboratory. I never felt satisfied with this type of research and at the time I didn’t understand why. I spent some time traveling and living the ski bum life after graduating, but was miserable knowing that I wanted to do something important in my life and wasn’t taking steps in the right direction to accomplish this goal. I weaseled my way into a Master of Science program focused on Climate Science and Solutions. During my graduate studies, I had the privilege of working as a policy research intern for a top renewable energy advocacy group in Portland, Oregon. It was here that I realized what was missing from my chemistry research, communicating with others was the puzzle piece I was looking for.

I have a split brain. Some of my thinking is incredibly scientific, but at the same time, I can be very creative. I love talking to other people and learning about why they believe what they believe. Unlike most scientists, I don’t always want to chase the newest findings, I want to understand how to improve existing ideas and concepts to encourage global teamwork. If two brains are better than one, imagine the power of 7 billion. Our differences help us look at problems from a unique point of view. I truly believe that if a common ground is established, there can be effective communication between people of different cultures, educational backgrounds, countries, and professions.