Keita Barisa / Kate Bariss Email and Phone Number

As part of the team in the Municipality of Riga for the project urbanLIFEcircles, I am tasked with planning, managing and executing tasks associated with public involvement. This includes the development of a grants programme, educational materials and coordinating project partners in Denmark and Estonia.

Working as a group leader and discussion moderator for the Riga Climate Assembly organized by Green Liberty.

As part of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, Rīga ZOO is actively developing its research and education, and I am happy to have helped in the development of education on nature conservation. During my time at Rīga ZOO, my responsibilities included:- Project writing and project activity coordination - Creation, activity coordination and participation in educational events- Management of volunteers- Creation of educational material focusing on species conservation and sustainability- Participation in field work and editing of scientific papers- Working with and caring for various small mammals, reptiles and invertebrates- Guiding excursions and lessons for school groups

I was granted an amazing opportunity to work alongside nature experts in one of the infamous European Union's LIFE projects: LIFE Peat Carbon! This project of international cooperation between Latvia, Finland, Germany and Denmark aims to rejuvenate anthropogenically affected mires in Latvia and Finland and test innovative methods for measuring greenhouse gas emissions. As the public relations specialist, I was in charge of gathering and publishing the actions and results taking place during the execution of project aims. An additional task set on me was the development of the Communication Strategy for the project. However, the best part was that I got to go along to the project sites and scientific seminars and conferences!

Offered private lessons to increase English proficiency, university seminars or specialized English lessons for companies. Worked mainly with project managers from the Latvian Nature Conservation Agency.

I had the great pleasure of being an intern at the Latvian Nature Protection Agency whilst writing my thesis about one of their projects. My goal was to measure the reaction of people to the new and experimental recommendations for the Gaujas river delta area. This included hands-on action with visiting the area and surveying responses to the recommendations and, of course, lots of research and data analysis!

Worked as a bartender and waitress in an Irish pub. Learned to handle customer and work in high-stress moments. Easily adapted to many different kinds of little jobs. Improved team-working skills, as only two or three people would handle a high volume of customers.

Taught children ages 3-12 to read and write in Latvian, once a week.