Thread by @frantecol

What a crazy end to a whirlwind week and the most difficult year in my career!

I found out that the big proposal I’m leading on climate-friendly Dutch agricultural grassland soils got funded!

We celebrated with my lovely group @ELD_IBED_UvA (1/x)

This is a big high to end a very difficult year, with multiple school closures, COVID hitting our family, and me having a near-burn-out. (2/x)

But, this call also made me compete with a very small set of Dutch soil scientists, and it’s really bittersweet that we got funded but some very capable people who I very much like and appreciate didn’t. (3/x)

Targeted programmes like this should really bring the field together, rather than have us compete. I’m hoping that we still can work together through the science we are collectively doing. (4/x)

But, now that I am forced to take a 3-week holiday (which infuriates me) I am very, very happy that I can really sit back and relax in the knowledge that we will start this amazing project with @Jeffinerca @pwbogaart @MorrienElly and other @ELD_IBED_UvA members 🎉 (5/end)

And I forgot to mention our amazing partner Arjan Reijneveld @EurofinsAgro 😊