Week 3: From Ideas to Action

Week three of my Central LiA Project with MakeSense and MerTerre felt like a real turning point. We officially began the ideation process, and the focus shifted from learning and absorbing information to actively building out the project’s direction. The week was based entirely in Marseille, with La Bascule as our workspace for part of it, and our schedule included a mix of workshops, coaching sessions, and meetings with subject matter experts. The energy was high and I could feel the project moving from theory toward implementation.

What went well?
The most impactful part of the week was the ideation workshop with Emma on Tuesday afternoon. It was not just a brainstorming session, but a deep dive into what our team could realistically achieve and how we could structure our ideas to align with MerTerre’s broader goals. Everyone brought something different to the table, and the conversations built naturally, leading to a few promising directions for our next steps.

On Wednesday, Emma led a group coaching session that pushed our thinking further. She has a way of guiding discussions that allows everyone to speak while also keeping the energy focused and productive. By the end, we had sharper concepts and a stronger sense of what ideas were worth pursuing.

Another highlight was my Friday meeting with Anne-Christelle at the MerTerre office. Her expertise in the ecological impact of textiles brought a new perspective to our work. While our project is centered on marine conservation, her insights on how textile waste and production tie into broader environmental degradation helped me see the interconnectedness of different ecological challenges. It reminded me that solving environmental problems often requires thinking across industries and disciplines.

What could have been done differently?
While the workshops were productive, I could have done a better job of documenting our discussions in real time. The fast pace of idea generation meant that some valuable points risked being lost once the conversation moved on. In future sessions, I want to make sure I am both contributing to the discussion and capturing detailed notes that will help us revisit and refine our ideas later.

What did I learn about myself when working with others?
This week confirmed that I thrive in collaborative ideation settings. I find it easy to build on someone else’s initial idea, connecting it to another suggestion and creating something new in the process. I enjoy listening closely to others, pulling out the strongest points, and weaving them into a more developed concept. It is a role that allows me to be both creative and analytical.

What did I learn about leadership?
Emma’s leadership style stood out to me. She facilitated rather than dictated, guiding the process while allowing the team to feel true ownership over the outcomes. This kind of leadership requires trust in the group’s abilities and a willingness to let go of control in the right moments. I also learned from Teo’s approach earlier in the week. His precision in handling data and structuring collaborative systems showed me that leadership is also about creating order and clarity in the background so the rest of the team can operate smoothly.

What do I want to develop or focus on next?
Moving forward, I want to focus on turning the promising ideas from our workshops into actionable steps with clear responsibilities and deadlines. I also want to work on improving my note-taking during fast-paced discussions so I can help the team preserve and refine our best ideas. Strengthening my ability to synthesize group input into a cohesive action plan will be key for the next stages of the project.

Updates on Deliverables
This week marked the point where my work on MerTerre’s deliverables started taking shape in concrete ways. On the data side, I began refining how information from the Zéro Déchet Sauvage participatory science platform could be organized and visualized for clearer insights. My computer science background came into play here, especially in thinking about how to streamline data flows so that researchers, policymakers, and volunteers can access up-to-date information without wading through clutter. I also started mapping potential improvements for integrating datasets from international projects into MerTerre’s systems, with the goal of making cross-country comparisons easier and more automated.

On the legislative side, I made progress in building an international benchmark for laws addressing diffuse abandoned waste. This involved identifying key regulations in the EU, North America, and other coastal nations, then comparing how these frameworks align or differ from France’s approach. I focused on how different legal systems enforce waste prevention, and began outlining potential measures that could strengthen policy around the Mediterranean. These findings will feed directly into MerTerre’s strategy recommendations, connecting the platform’s data with advocacy work that can influence public authorities.

Life in Marseille this week
Outside of work, Marseille continued to offer a mix of daily life and moments of discovery. Early mornings in La Bascule’s neighborhood are quiet, with just the sound of people setting up small cafés and the smell of fresh bread drifting from the boulangeries. The port area is always lively, especially in the late afternoon when the sun reflects off the water and the boats come and go.

This week, I managed to spend a bit more time walking through the city after meetings. I explored some of the side streets near the Old Port where local shops sell everything from Provençal spices to handmade soaps. One evening, I climbed up to a viewpoint to watch the sunset over the Mediterranean. The light turned the city’s terracotta rooftops a deep gold, and the sea shifted through shades of blue and silver. It was a quiet reminder of why preserving this coastline matters so much.

Marseille has a way of blending work and place into one experience. Every meeting and workshop feels connected to the life happening just outside the door. It is a city that makes it easy to stay grounded in the purpose behind the project.