Arthur Lézé, laureate of the 2023 Entente Cordiale for the Climate scholarship

I spent my first 2 years at the Ecole Centrale in Nantes, a general engineering school that opened a lot of doors for me, particularly in the fields of energy and the environment. During these two years, I had the opportunity to become fully aware of the climate challenges we are facing, but also of their intrinsic link with the production and consumption of energy. It's against this backdrop that I've chosen to specialise in 'Energy Production and Management', and that I'm going to do a double degree entitled 'Renewable Energy MsC' at Cranfield University.

The scholarship offered by the British Council represents invaluable financial support for me, given the high cost of studying in the UK. But beyond the financial aspect, for me it's also the culmination of several years of study, and recognition of my commitment to the environment! In fact, I've had the opportunity to work on the energy transition, during my placement with a solar and wind energy developer, as well as during a project carried out jointly with the Nantes-based association Mission Change. Knowing that the British Council is encouraging me to continue my studies in this field confirms that I've chosen the right path!

What's more, studying in the UK will give me the opportunity to discover another country and get involved in the very close-knit community network at Cranfield University, as well as convincing students who might otherwise be reluctant to take the plunge!

My goal for the future is to work to support the energy transition by working in the field of energy consulting and auditing. I'm convinced that climate change will have an impact on every aspect of society as we know it, and that to deal with it we'll need to be able to advise businesses, local authorities and governments, as well as individual citizens, to take the collective decisions needed to change the way we think about energy consumption and our relationship with fossil fuels.

Finally, I would very much like to get involved in community work to raise awareness and create social links in the face of the climate upheavals that are already affecting us. I'm sure that cooperation will be the key to tackling them, so let's stick together!