In this issue of "Behind the scenes" we have interviewed Ms Constantina Stavrou, Project Manager at Citizens In Power (C.I.P.)

Tell us more about Citizens in Power

C.I.P. Citizens In Power (C.I.P.) is an independent non-profit, non-governmental organization. C.I.P. constitutes one of the leading organizations in Cyprus in the fields of global education, social innovation, entrepreneurship, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) and sustainable growth. Our team designs and implements cross-sectoral, interdisciplinary approaches as a response to fundamental social, educational and environmental challenges and policy gaps, mainly by employing technology transfer and operationalizing the research findings.

What is your role at C.I.P.?

I am a project manager and researcher at C.I.P.'s STEM department, coordinating and implementing EU-funded Projects (Key Actions 3; Key Actions 2; ENI CBC MED) in the environmental and new technologies sectors. 

What is your background and which specific perspectives does that background actively contribute to NEX-LABS?

I am an Electrical Engineer with a direction of study in Power Systems. I have a master's degree in Advanced Manufacturing and monitoring energy delivery and energy production from the Universite Claude Bernard in Lyon, France. I worked as an automation engineer and as a project manager in large scale photovoltaic plants in France and Cyprus. My background is directly related to the NEX-LABS project's objectives and is helping me understand the Water, Energy and Food (WEF) nexus challenges and support the project's activities and implementation.  

What is your role in the NEX-LABS project? What are you currently working on?

My role in the project is to encourage public policy structured dialogues with decision-makers and academia in Cyprus. I also contribute to the communication and visibility of NEX-LABS and support the different stages of implementing the project's activities. 

What are your expectations for the NEX-LABS project? What do you think will have a major impact on the Mediterranean community?

In Cyprus, public awareness regarding the WEF challenges is limited to nonexistent. Thus, through the NEX-LABS project I expect that the major impact on the Mediterranean community will be the support for the development of the Nexus Driven Open Living Labs (NDOLLs) to bring together key stakeholders from academia, public and private sector for Information and Communication Technologies and technological development that will facilitate solving WEF challenges. 

What do you like to do when you are not working on NEX-LABS?

I have 2 amazing dogs, so I am spending a lot of my free time with them. I also love traveling and exploring new cultures.