Anja Ipavec Lakner

My name is Anja Ipavec Lakner, and I am a second-year master's student of Geography at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana in Slovenia. In 2023, I completed my bachelor's degree in Geography and Spanish Language and Literature at the same faculty. Currently, I study Environmental and Physical Geography and Geography of Tourism at Faculty of Arts in Slovenia. During my studies, I also participated in an Erasmus+ exchange program in Belgium, which allowed me to gain international academic experience and develop cross-cultural communication skills. My bachelor's thesis, titled "Causes and implications od sea level rise in the selected Oceania countries", already reflected my interest in climate change and especially its impacts on the Ocean. My Master's Thesis, "Comparison of Some Climatic and Oceanographic Characteristics between the Tide Buoy Vida and the Coastal Area of Slovenian Istria (1991–2020)”, inegrates meteorological and oceanographic data, providing a novel comparative approach in the Slovenian context.
In the past, I also worked on projects related to theevaluation of karst geodiversity, rainfall erosivity, and the impacts of climate change on the environment. Through my studies, I gained skills in GIS analysis, remote sensing and environmental assessment. I am fluent in five languages, which allows me to communicate effectively across cultures. Coming from Slovenia, with its small but important access to the Adriatic Sea and strong maritime tradition, I am motivated to raise awareness about the interconnectedness of climate and the Ocean. By becoming a European Young Ocean Advocate, I aim to share my knowledge, learn from others, and contribute to projects that protect the Ocean and promote a resilient future for all.