Text Ning Fan
PhD candidates explain their most thought-provoking proposition. This time it’s the turn of Felipe Cozim Melges, who received his PhD in December 2024. His thesis was about how biodiversity can be enhanced in circular food systems.
‘Growing up in Brazil, where football is a constant part of daily life, this parallel resonates deeply with me. During my PhD project, I saw how the dynamics of teamwork in research mirror those on the football field. Both require strategy, trust and cooperation for the success of the project. If my research team were a football team, I’d say PhD candidates are the strikers, focused on getting papers published and getting their doctorate. But just as a striker relies on his teammates for assists, I’ve had to rely on my colleagues and supervisors to work within big projects.’
‘Beyond the players on the pitch, a footballer’s performance also depends on coaches, analysts and nutritionists. Academia has its own unsung heroes: the administrators, cleaning personnel, IT staff and the technicians for example. Their work is the invisible glue that holds it all together. Neymar, once supposedly one of football’s brightest stars, is also a metaphorical cautionary tale. He could change a game with his dazzling skills, but he couldn’t win a championship on his own. The overreliance and over-importance given to him severely harmed the Brazilian national team.
Whether on the pitch or in the lab, it’s the collective effort that creates true champions.’
