365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge

  🚲 Last Sunday was unforgettable and full of nature, connection, and discovery! I went on a day trip, which turned into a truly meaningful experience. ☀️ I cycled for about an hour to reach a nearby town, where I started a 16 km walk through beautiful nature. Birds singing, leaves rustling, the sun shining brightly… it was beautiful! 🌲 On the way back, I took a different cycling route just to see where it would lead me. I ended up exploring places I’d never been, even discovering hidden corners of my own city. ❤️ And then something extra special happened. My gut feeling suggested me to turn right, which caused me to pass by the home of a friend who’s been having a tough time lately. I decided to turn back and rang her bell. 💬 Luckily, she was at home and we spent a wonderful hour together. Her hug when I arrived was warm, but the one when I left was even warmer because our conversation had made her feel a lot better. 🌍 Six hours of fresh air, movement, kindness, and new ...

  📚 Exciting news! Volume 1 of my book series, "A Guide to a Healthier Planet" (or "Der Weg zu einem gesünderen Planeten" in German), has been downloaded over 29,000 times! 🎉 (Does that make it a bestseller? Either way, I'm thrilled!) 🌍 With more than 23,000 downloads in German and 6,000 in English, it's incredible to see the reach it's having. 💚 I'm thrilled by the positive impact it's making. This book isn't just about fascinating scientific insights; it's filled with actionable steps we can all take in our daily lives to make a difference. ✨ If you already have a copy, thank you for taking steps towards a healthier planet! If not yet: now's the perfect time to get one. Together, we can create meaningful change for our planet and #MakeScienceGreatAgain!

  🤱 I just finished proofreading a chapter for my upcoming book "A Guide to a Healthier Planet 3" and was shocked again: 3 out of 4 mothers are feeding their children microplastics! 👶 These invisible plastic particles sneak into our bodies through food, water, air, and even everyday product such as sea salt and beer. And yes, they reach our babies too. ⚠️ That is bad, really bad. 🧹 That’s why I’m committed to doing something about it. I for example organize two cleanup events in my city every week, and I inspire change through education and action. 🌍 Please give this post a ❤️ or a "support" if you also agree plastic pollution needs to stop and share in a comment on how you feel we can achieve this. Thank you for joining me! Source of this statistic: Enyoh, C. E., Devi, A., Kadono, H., Wang, Q., & Rabin, M. H. (2023). The Plastic Within: Microplastics Invading Human Organs and Bodily Fluids Systems. Environments, 10(11), 194.

💡 Many of us use AI every day, I do too. I think it's an incredible technology that makes my life easier in many ways. But here’s something we often forget: if AI isn’t secure, we can get into real trouble. 🤖 Whether you're an individual or a company, securing AI systems is no longer optional, it's essential. ✒️ I showed why this is essential in a recent course on the EU-AI Act. In my example, I hacked an AI-supported job application portal, to make sure I was invited to a job interview for a shop manager role, even though I’m completely unsuitable for that job. That’s one of the risks when AI systems are vulnerable to manipulation. 🔐 In this video, you can see how I achieved this (with English subtitles): https://youtu.be/g1wzhd1b9S0 And don’t worry, I won't start a role as shop manager as I'll continue working toward a more secure future for all. 😊

  I’ll admit it: every now and then, I Google my name to see what pops up. (You do it too, right? Be honest 😉 ) That is why a while ago, I noticed something unexpected: Google labels me as Internet Personality! ✨ At first, I had no idea what that means. But thanks to Google's AI, I now know: "An "internet personality" on Google generally refers to an individual who has gained significant recognition and fame through their online presence, often through social media or content creation." ✨ How cool is that?! 🌍 To me, this isn't about algorithms or labels. It shows that the work I put out into the world makes a difference and that sharing knowledge, stories, and ideas really can create ripples of impact. 📗 And I will keep going: I just handed in a new book proposal to Springer Nature!

💻 Speaking online, to me a blessing and a curse at the same time. ⏱️ Yes, it's wonderfully efficient with no travel and no lost time. But I'm honest: to me a lot gets lost when I'm not in the same room. That natural human connection, the little cues like a nod, a smile, and eye contact, are harder to read through a screen. 🤔 For example, when my students look at their notes on another screen, it easily feels like disinterest. But as Annabell Whitney wisely said in a recent presentation: “Never try to read someone else’s thoughts.” 💬 She is right, because a student who I thought was hardly paying attention wrote to me the following heart-warming feedback: "I would like to sincerely thank Erlijn for her inspiring and highly professional teaching! I truly enjoyed her course — the clarity of her explanations, her warm and respectful communication style, and the well-structured learning materials made the entire experience both effective and enjoyable." 😌 And ...

Today, I did an experiment. I wasn't sure whether it was a great idea or completely nuts. 🤔 So I tried it, and it turned out to be brilliant! ✨ I took two chairs and a sign to the heart of the city. The sign read, "Do you wish someone would just listen to you? Take a seat. (max. 10 minutes per person)" 🪑 For two hours, I sat there. Five people sat down and spoke to me, and many (I guess at least a hundred) smiled broadly after reading the sign. Also many shared their love for the idea verbally or with gestures. People started conversations among each other about it. One person told me it really made her think about her daily life. Another returned after walking past. One person hugged me after sharing her story for ten minutes. The gratitude was overwhelming. 💬 It's amazing how a small act of kindness can create such a profound impact. 🌱 I'm sure that I'll repeat the experiment someday. ✨

Working in cybersecurity and sustainability is deeply meaningful to me, but also often emotionally heavy due to constant exposure to crises. That’s why I recently did a course to support my mental health. And it helped me in more ways than I expected. One part of the course introduced me to meditation, something I never thought I’d truly connect with. But here’s the beautiful part: they showed a free app called Sattva that offers daily guided meditations and plants a tree when you complete 10 days in a row! 🌱 🧘‍♀️ So while I’m taking a few mindful minutes each day to care for my inner world, I’m also helping heal the outer world. How awesome! Mental health and a healthier planet go hand in hand. And the good news: there are small, powerful ways to recharge and give back at the same time. 💚

Not long ago, I was walking through the Swiss countryside with a lovely group of people when we met a woman who deeply impressed me. For several years now, she’s been walking through the carrot fields just before harvest – not to gather vegetables, but to rescue life. 🥕 ✨ She searches for butterfly eggs and caterpillars, gently takes them home, feeds them, cares for them for weeks – until they transform into stunning butterflies. And then? She releases them back into the wild, where they belong. 💫 That day, I had the honor of releasing one of those butterflies myself. It was a quiet, beautiful moment – a reminder of hope. 🌍 💚 It feels great to know that I'm not alone, one of the many people out there who dedicate themselves to protecting nature!