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At ľ�ϸ���Ӱ�� College Utrecht, students don’t just learn about the world - they actively shape it. Daniella Mires, majoring in Earth & Environment and Law and chair of EcologiCo (Ecological Committee), is a prime example. From childhood road trips through the Peruvian Andes to leading campus-wide sustainability initiatives, Daniella’s journey is rooted in both personal experience and a deep sense of responsibility. We spoke with her about what sparked her environmental activism, how UCU helped her turn anxiety into action, and why even small changes - like radiator foil - can make a big difference.

What sparked your initial interest in sustainability and environmental work?

It all started with my brother. He’s eight years older than me, and every time he learned something about the environment at school, he would tell me. I was taught since primary school “you have to turn off the tap while brushing your teeth” but I never understood why. Thankfully he could answer my questions and was there to teach me his way of thinking. This was the moment where I was like, “Whoa, I am consuming resources.”

I didn’t know what to study, but I suffered reading reports about how the world is warming and how organizations and agreements aren’t really helping. I liked art and thought I could study painting, but then I thought, “Why study painting in a dying world?” I wanted to do something about it myself. I found an outlet for my distress through action and dedicated my every day to it. That already started in high school where I founded a club to create local change.

Do you think your perspective as an international student brings something unique to the environmental conversation in Utrecht?

I think my urgency about environmentalism comes from my experiences back home in Peru. Here in Utrecht, nature feels distant. It’s very urban and structured, and people are more focused on metropolitan sustainability. I’m from Lima, a big city, so I’m not claiming to be a “rainforest girl,” but at least back home I had the beautiful Andes and rainforest connected by highways to me. I had a lot of road trips growing up with my family around Peru in our van, so I’ve seen the direct impact climate change has had on the land. When you go up the Andes, the Ichu plant indicates where the biome changes and snow starts. Every year I’d go back the threshold would be higher and higher.

There are so many opportunities here, including funding and collaborations. If you find a niche of interested students, there’s so much you can do.

Why did you choose to study at UCU, and how has it academically supported your environmental interests?

When I came to an open day here, I saw all the different courses related to sustainability - like Anthropology of Conservation or a course exploring topics in Sustainability. I love doing a lot at once, so it was perfect. When I tried to propose a curriculum plan for myself, I couldn’t even choose because everything looked like something I would love to do. I also saw many committees, and I found Ecologico for the first time at the open day. I wanted to get involved, asked if they needed volunteers, but they said they were just a board. I decided to join and do something about that. There are so many opportunities here, including funding and collaborations. If you find a niche of interested students, there’s so much you can do.

One thing that really helped me at UCU was the flexibility to change my focus. I started in Earth and Environmental Chemistry, thinking Science was the way to solve this. But as I got involved with Ecologico and my internship, I switched to law last year. You can always talk to your tutor, change your path, and it’s normal here.

The curriculum encourages critical thinking about human systems, which some find depressing. I joke with friends: “Another lecture about how we’re going to die!” But I take it as fuel to change things. Yes, there’s a tipping point coming, but a little less catastrophe or a different future is possible. You just have to try. At UCU, every conversation tends to be a critique of the system and how things don’t work - but we need to channel that into action.

I joke with friends: “Another lecture about how we’re going to die!” But I take it as fuel to change things

Fast forward to the grant you received. Can you tell me a little bit about that?

This all started because I’m chair of Ecologico, a student-led committee at UCU focused on making sustainable changes. I had also done an internship at Duurzaam Utrecht 2030 where we focused on bringing the UN’s SDGs to low-income residents. I went to community centers in Utrecht, like A Beautiful Mess in Overvecht, to brainstorm with people over coffee and tea.

I kept telling my internship boss, Ineke Malsch, how much energy we consume on campus, since there’s no cost or penalty for turning the heating up or leaving windows open—there’s no connection between our actions and the emissions. I noticed my flatmates turning the heater to five and opening windows at the same time. Ineke put me in touch with Marjon from Energie-U. She explained how insulating buildings can really cut gas usage. So, I thought, what if we insulated all habitable units on campus?

We started meetings late last year and I made a proposal, quantifying how many heaters there are per building and how much money we’d need. Energie-U connected us with a grant from the Gemeente of Utrecht for sustainable energy projects. We applied and received it under my name, representing EcologiCo. We’re also collaborating with another organization called Energy Box, which provides free insulation materials for each campus address. The project involves installing special aluminum radiator foil on all heaters facing outward walls in campus units during July and August. This is where most energy is lost. The foil works by reflecting heat back into the room, preventing it from escaping through walls. We calculated that, once installed, the foil will help us save about 15,000 cubic meters of gas per year, based on the number of heaters on campus units.

We included a behavioral campaign in the proposal to accompany the insulation—like lectures, activities, and research on energy use—since our budget through UCSA is limited.

Have you encountered any challenges in implementing sustainable changes on campus?

We’ve had some ups and downs. When I first suggested the project the UCU’s Administration there were many ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’. But I prepared our meetings well and kept my passion and delivery consistent. Now they help facilitate things, and actually answer my emails (laughs).

There’s no sense of urgency with sustainability, so we must lead by example. Luckily, the amazing EcologiCo board helps by dividing tasks, supporting meetings, and providing information. Without my amazing board’s efforts and friendship this would have been impossible: Imke, Niels, Sophia, Molly and Alec. We collaborated a lot with C.A.R., especially with their sustainability portfolio representative Leila. She’s one of the key people who really supported us.

How do you, as the chair of Ecologico, motivate and organize students to take part in sustainability?

It has to feel accessible. Climate change is so big and catastrophic it can be paralyzing. But I think anchoring down to smaller things helps. Small wins add up to big wins. There’s a saying in Spanish: you can’t cover the sun with one finger. You can’t solve everything, but focus on one issue you see around you. For example, if you notice something bad for the environment in your classroom, focus on changing that. Or maybe people around you aren’t aware of the effect of eating meat, put your energy there, raise awareness, create a workshop, or collaborate. Sustainability is multifaceted; it affects how we live, eat, recreate, and sleep. Start local. If something makes you anxious - like food waste - Google for organizations, or start a project yourself. Talk to the Green Office, the Green Team, or Ecologico. It’s okay if you don’t have a platform or a full plan yet. Brainstorming is key.

What do want to do after graduation UCU?

I’m aiming to do a master’s in Environmental Policy and Management in Lund, Sweden. It’s interdisciplinary, covering everything from economics and policy to Earth Systems, which really fits what I want to work within.

People often ask if I want to go back home or stay here, but from my experience with projects, I’d like to found something here - an NGO or organization that eventually gives back to projects in Latin America. The funding and support back home just aren’t there. It’s not as simple as coming in with a fancy degree and starting something big. So, I want to build something here with investors and organizations that already exist, to support local groups back home with money, volunteers, and resources. People love doing volunteer work abroad, so that’s something I’d like to organize.

Small wins add up to big wins

If you had unlimited resources, what kind of environmental project would you love to start?

I love this question. First of all, I’d heavily regulate AI and its water consumption. It’s crazy - insane, actually. I’d raise awareness about it and pay a lot of researchers to make it the most efficient ever, because everyone’s relying on it now. AI is one of the most environmentally catastrophic things we’re doing, especially as its integrated into every engine.

I guess I’d also dismiss some politicians…But most importantly, I’d really focus on bringing a deeper connection to the environment in schools and change the way we teach.

Right now, people easily reject environmental ideas - maybe out of laziness or cognitive dissonance. They hear things like, “Don’t keep things plugged in,” or “Don’t eat meat,” but there’s no real explanation behind it. I’m sure there’s a way to teach the science in an interdisciplinary, accessible way that encourages children to question how our society is built around environmental degradation and want to make change. We need more people involved, and education is key. So yeah: AI in check, re-brand politics and education.

Any final remarks for future or current students?

I want to emphasize: if you’re passionate, check out organizations in Utrecht. There’s so much to do. You don’t have to speak Dutch. You just need passion and diligence, and you can do anything. Big change starts small, let’s not get discouraged!