CAT Story: Alice Breeveld - cat.org.uk
Source: https://cat.org.uk/posts/cat-story-alice-breeveld
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:15
CAT Story: Alice Breeveld - cat.org.uk
CAT Story: Alice Breeveld
April 3, 2026
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April 3, 2026
Graduating from CAT in 2023, we recently heard from Alice about how she’s putting her
Masters in Sustainable Food and Natural Resources
into practice.
From using her newly gained skillset to make sustainable changes in her role as a Senior Research fellow at UCL, to putting the confidence she gained into action as a volunteer for her local climate action group, Alice’s story is an inspiring read for all of us at CAT!
Q. What was your background before enrolling at CAT?
I studied physics and astronomy at university and have been working for several decades in space science at UCL, initially in detector physics and then working on the calibration of optical and ultraviolet space telescopes. I have also been involved in some astronomy research.
I still had my job and so did the course over a number of years. I loved each and every module. The week onsite was immersive, with dawn to dusk concentration, and total absorption. I dreaded the assignments, each time convincing myself I would never be able to do it, but by setting aside enough time, talking to other students and my tutor, I persevered and completed each one on time.
Q. What made you choose to study at the Graduate School?
For many years, I have been anxious about climate change. Once my children were nearly grown up I felt it was time to follow my passion, and get ready to change to a new career, and taking an MSc at CAT seemed like the perfect way to study while keeping working. All the courses looked ultra interesting, but having been brought up on an organic smallholding, and having my own allotment, I felt the sustainable food MSc would be the best fit. I went to an open day in 2016 and started in 2017. It was the best decision ever.
Q. What impact did your studies have?
The onsite weeks and assignments taught me loads about each topic, but I also felt I was building up really useful set of skills. I felt a real sense of achievement after each module.
Result: a huge boost to my confidence in my ability to navigate huge amounts of material and pick out the key points, write things in different styles, and communicate with people. In the past, when I might have been having a conversation with someone about climate change, I would assume they knew more than me and that they were the expert and I knew little, especially if they were men. Now I feel I am (sometimes) the expert and can talk more confidently. I have a new respect for myself.
Q. What are your future plans?
As for my career, I have not made that planned change partly because my department gave me a new project, but also after much thinking and discussion (and an Outrage and Optimism podcast episode on what people can do in the workplace), I came to the realisation that we need activists EVERYWHERE. It is no good if anyone who cares about climate leaves their work to look for ‘green’ jobs. We need people leading from within.
I now have a small but dedicated, and growing, team of people at work following the Green Impact programme. We have made a sustainability plan for our department, which has been accepted-ish by management. I also lead a Wild Space group making our grounds more biodiverse and inspiring staff and students. I wrote a sustainable management plan for the grounds separately. We planted an orchard, have a wildflower meadow, have reptile refugia etc.
Outside of work, I am now acting as secretary to a local climate action group trying to raise awareness of climate change in the community. We are very close to launching a library of things in collaboration with our local library and a retirement village.
None of this would have happened without my new-found confidence and self-respect.
A Heartening Reminder
The way Alice paired the confidence and skillset gained from her Masters with her own passion is a great reminder of why we do what we do at CAT’s Graduate School…we aim to mobilise the determination within! And the ways that Alice is enacting changes in her workplace and community is a heartening read for all of us at CAT!
If you have a story to share about how CAT has had an impact on your life, work or experiences,
we’d love to hear them
.
STUDY AT CAT
Inspired by Alice’s story? Find out more about our
Masters in Sustainable Food and Natural Resources
or other courses on one of our next
Graduate School open days
, or get in touch with our Admissions Team
study@cat.org.uk
01654 705974.
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CAT Story: Alice Breeveld
April 3, 2026
Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
Share on Mail (Opens in new window)
Share on Print (Opens in new window)
April 3, 2026
Graduating from CAT in 2023, we recently heard from Alice about how she’s putting her
Masters in Sustainable Food and Natural Resources
into practice.
From using her newly gained skillset to make sustainable changes in her role as a Senior Research fellow at UCL, to putting the confidence she gained into action as a volunteer for her local climate action group, Alice’s story is an inspiring read for all of us at CAT!
Q. What was your background before enrolling at CAT?
I studied physics and astronomy at university and have been working for several decades in space science at UCL, initially in detector physics and then working on the calibration of optical and ultraviolet space telescopes. I have also been involved in some astronomy research.
I still had my job and so did the course over a number of years. I loved each and every module. The week onsite was immersive, with dawn to dusk concentration, and total absorption. I dreaded the assignments, each time convincing myself I would never be able to do it, but by setting aside enough time, talking to other students and my tutor, I persevered and completed each one on time.
Q. What made you choose to study at the Graduate School?
For many years, I have been anxious about climate change. Once my children were nearly grown up I felt it was time to follow my passion, and get ready to change to a new career, and taking an MSc at CAT seemed like the perfect way to study while keeping working. All the courses looked ultra interesting, but having been brought up on an organic smallholding, and having my own allotment, I felt the sustainable food MSc would be the best fit. I went to an open day in 2016 and started in 2017. It was the best decision ever.
Q. What impact did your studies have?
The onsite weeks and assignments taught me loads about each topic, but I also felt I was building up really useful set of skills. I felt a real sense of achievement after each module.
Result: a huge boost to my confidence in my ability to navigate huge amounts of material and pick out the key points, write things in different styles, and communicate with people. In the past, when I might have been having a conversation with someone about climate change, I would assume they knew more than me and that they were the expert and I knew little, especially if they were men. Now I feel I am (sometimes) the expert and can talk more confidently. I have a new respect for myself.
Q. What are your future plans?
As for my career, I have not made that planned change partly because my department gave me a new project, but also after much thinking and discussion (and an Outrage and Optimism podcast episode on what people can do in the workplace), I came to the realisation that we need activists EVERYWHERE. It is no good if anyone who cares about climate leaves their work to look for ‘green’ jobs. We need people leading from within.
I now have a small but dedicated, and growing, team of people at work following the Green Impact programme. We have made a sustainability plan for our department, which has been accepted-ish by management. I also lead a Wild Space group making our grounds more biodiverse and inspiring staff and students. I wrote a sustainable management plan for the grounds separately. We planted an orchard, have a wildflower meadow, have reptile refugia etc.
Outside of work, I am now acting as secretary to a local climate action group trying to raise awareness of climate change in the community. We are very close to launching a library of things in collaboration with our local library and a retirement village.
None of this would have happened without my new-found confidence and self-respect.
A Heartening Reminder
The way Alice paired the confidence and skillset gained from her Masters with her own passion is a great reminder of why we do what we do at CAT’s Graduate School…we aim to mobilise the determination within! And the ways that Alice is enacting changes in her workplace and community is a heartening read for all of us at CAT!
If you have a story to share about how CAT has had an impact on your life, work or experiences,
we’d love to hear them
.
STUDY AT CAT
Inspired by Alice’s story? Find out more about our
Masters in Sustainable Food and Natural Resources
or other courses on one of our next
Graduate School open days
, or get in touch with our Admissions Team
study@cat.org.uk
01654 705974.
Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
Share on Mail (Opens in new window)
Share on Print (Opens in new window)
Latest Articles
New Postgraduate Bursary Launched to Support Welsh Students
April 22, 2026
CAT Story: Alice Breeveld
April 3, 2026
Leadership updates at CAT
March 12, 2026
Enriching learning through residential field trips
March 11, 2026
Leading with Nature: Regenerative Leadership for Women
March 6, 2026
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