All over the place
Beatrice Crona – our newly appointed professor in sustainability science – approaches her work with dedication, urgency and a healthy dose of serendipity
IF YOU SEND an email to Beatrice Crona, you are likely to receive an automatic reply saying, “I am currently working on completing multiple projects and large bids.”
That may as well be the story of her work life.
She always has so much going on and even admits that she can sometimes take on a little too much. Not only a professor, Crona also works as the deputy science director at the SRC.
In addition, she leads the Global Economic Dynamics and the Biosphere programme at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and is the co-leader of the Blue Food Assessment – an initiative that brings together over 100 scientists from more than 25 different institutions around the world.
Oh, and she also supervises three PhD students on various marine-, food- and fi nance-related topics.
There are several other projects worth mentioning, too – but there is only so much that can fit in one story.
Science remains one of our best tools for making important decisions.
Beatrice Crona
Things that are meaningful
Her dedication stems from the sense of urgency that she feels to deal with the environmental crisis that the world is currently facing. Serendipity is her favourite word, however.
So, in addition to her hard work and dedication, she also leaves room for creativity and chance, seizing all opportunities that come her way, provided that they might contribute to positive change:
“If this means I sometimes have to jump on a completely new track, I’ll do it! Because I need to be working on things that can make a difference and are meaningful,” she says.
Her relentless efforts to do good can sometimes give the impression that she is attempting to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders – which can scare people off a bit, given that she has scant time for nonsense.
“She will cut through faff like a hot knife through butter,” says one colleague.
But behind that seemingly regimented exterior is a kind-hearted colleague who genuinely cares about all those around her.
Indeed, her PhD students praise her for “always finding the time when you need her the most”.
Pushing for change
As a scientist, Crona thrives when she is part of groundbreaking collaborations at the forefront of scientific progress.
Even when others around her recommend that she play it safe and stick to what she knows, she is not afraid to push things further out of the box.
One example of this is the Sleeping Financial Giants initiative, which connects potential investors in the financial sector with the latest science on “tipping elements” in the earth system. If regions like the Amazon rainforest are pushed too far, they can destabilise earth’s climate and exacerbate global warming.
Investors play a significant role in stabilising these tipping elements, which is why connections to the financial sector, established through programmes like the Sleeping Financial Giants initiative, are crucial.
In addition to the work mentioned above, Crona has also played a crucial role in the SeaBOS initiative – the first initiative to see ten of the world’s largest seafood companies collaborate with science to implement a joint vision of developing more sustainable seafood production and improved ocean health.
Navigating new opportunities
Collaborations like these are the reason why she continues to do research. Because, despite the politics, power plays and the constant chase for funding, “science remains one of our best tools for making important decisions,” she says.
Is she worried that engagements with business and industry might compromise her scientific integrity?
“Not really – but it’s important to be self-aware. You have to navigate that space continuously and if your gut ever tells you it’s not right, then you step away,” she explains.
Crona will continue to try to deliver good science – but only if it contributes to real change.
Otherwise, she might try something new. Perhaps being a midwife, for instance (“I like seeing new things emerge from complex combinations of elements”).
Alternatively, she might finally learn to play her grandmother’s old piano.
Read more about Crona’s work here