Hi everyone! I’m Min, a climate change documentary filmmaker from Thailand. I’ve spent years in the media world, but I recently realized that to truly tell the story of our planet, I needed to bridge the gap between storytelling, science, and policy. That’s what brought me to the MSc in Environmental Sustainability Education and Communication here at the University of York.
This program is actually quite special-it’s an interdisciplinary course now in its third year. It combines the strengths of the Department of Education (ranked 5th in the UK for research!) and the Department of Environment and Geography.
Learning Through Play and Practice
One of my favorite parts of the course is the Transformative Environmental Education module. Every week, we explore creative ways to teach environmental topics. In my experience, using tools like board games, storytelling, and even craft-based learning makes these complex issues so much more accessible. It’s given me amazing ideas for how I can engage younger audiences through my future films.
I also really enjoyed the Sustainability module. It’s seminar-based, which allowed me to exchange ideas with classmates from all over the world. We even took a field trip to a national park, which was a fantastic way to see theory in action.
Bridging the Science Gap
As a filmmaker, I sometimes struggled to translate dense scientific data into something visual. The Communicating the Climate Emergency module is helping me solve that. I’m learning how to understand IPCC reports and communicate that data effectively-a skill that will be vital when I’m back behind the camera.
Life in a “Living Lab”
Living in York is an inspiration in itself. Did you know the City of York managed to reduce its carbon emissions by over 50% in just three years?. There are so many local NGOs and environmental activities where you can volunteer and expand your experience every week.
On campus, I feel deeply fulfilled by the nature around me. The university is surrounded by lakes and rich biodiversity-it’s common to see flocks of geese, swans, rabbits, and even foxes wandering around!. Plus, as one of the safest cities in the UK, I always feel secure here.
Support Every Step of the Way
Studying abroad isn’t always easy, but the community here is incredibly welcoming. The university offers free workshops on everything from 3D learning and communication to video-editing skills. If you need help with job planning or CV writing, the career support team is excellent. They even provide dedicated support for mental health and cost-of-living concerns.
My supervisor has been a huge part of my journey too. They even helped me organize a screening of one of my Thai documentaries on campus! Having an international audience watch my work and share feedback was an unforgettable experience.
I truly feel I’m learning to my fullest potential here, both inside and outside the classroom
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