Hi Laurence, could you introduce yourself? Tell me where you are from, what your educational background is, if you had any prior work experience before your internship at HCSS?
Hi, my name is Laurence Krakow and I am from Belgium. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Leiden University, and I am now completing a second degree in Earth Sciences at TU Delft. I chose to combine both fields because I am particularly interested in sustainability, resource management, and clean energies. While my first degree allowed me to grasp and analyse the importance of natural resources and their management from a societal and economic perspective, my second bachelor’s degree gives me the scientific background to understand the practicalities of resource extraction and processing allowing me to better grasp what is feasible given the Earth’s systems and available technologies. This combination has allowed me to gain both a technical and political/economic perspective on the topic. Before starting the general internship at HCSS, I had never worked a traditional nine-to-five. Instead, I acquired practical experience through various extracurricular projects, volunteering work, and typical student jobs.
So, what initially attracted you to the HCSS internship programme and why did you apply? How did you find out about HCSS?
Given my educational background, I was looking for work experience where I could combine my interest in mineral resources and clean energy technologies, which linked to my current study programme, with my background in Political Science. Thus, what initially drew me to HCSS was their research on critical raw materials and their supply chains. I believe it is one of the few think tanks in the Netherlands working on these topics, which really intrigued me. Naturally, HCSS seemed like a good fit.
Before applying, I also contacted a former classmate who had done the general internship. They gave me all the confirmation I needed by sharing their experience at HCSS and telling me how much they appreciated the work environment and the projects they got to contribute to. After that, I was confident I would enjoy and gain a lot from my time here.
Can you describe your time as a general intern? What does your day-to-day look like?
A typical day during the internship can vary a lot from one intern to another, depending on the projects you are assigned to. At the start of my internship, I was involved in two research projects that were still in their early stages. Therefore, much of my time was spent conducting background research. I did deep internet dives trying to uncover all the academic articles, newspaper items, institutional reports, and legislative frameworks that related to the topic I was working on.
This phase was quite fun because I had the freedom to explore the topics as I saw fit, giving me the liberty to dive as deeply as I wanted to when I stumbled upon something I believed was relevant. For one of the research projects, we even conducted interviews thereby getting insights directly from stakeholders. Working as part of a team during that stage also pushed me to stay organised and carefully keep track of information and sources in a clear and structured way so that someone else could properly look through the information I gathered. This is something I became better at during my time at HCSS and hope to carry with me after I leave.
Further along in my internship, I also moved on to the writing process, trying to make sense of all the information that was gathered and to compile it into a coherent and well-structured text. It was nice to also be included in that part of the project under the guide of experienced analysts and get to receive feedback on my work. I also contributed to the preparation of visuals. For one of my projects, I used QGIS, a map-making tool. This was particularly enjoyable, as I had already learned how to use the software in my studies and was eager to develop my skills.
Of course, my internship was not only about work. It also included plenty of coffee breaks and Friday evening borrels, which gave me the chance to relax and get to know the rest of the team better. These moments were an opportunity to connect with others and network with both peers and professionals. I gained a lot from every single person I met at HCSS. Whether they were analysts or fellow interns, everyone had something to teach me about their life experience or topics of their interest.
What advice would you have for future interns that are thinking of applying?
My main advice for any future intern would be not to hesitate to share what you hope to gain from the internship and which topics you would like to work on. HCSS is a workplace where several research projects are going on at the same time, with topics ranging from hybrid threats and water security to critical raw materials and power dynamics in the Indo-Pacific. Whatever your interest is, HCSS is probably working on it.
As an intern, I would advise you to be aware of the themes HCSS works on and keep an eye on new projects. If something interests you, do not hesitate to share it. The team is welcoming of individual initiative and will try to adapt to your preferences in order to tailor the internship to you.
Simultaneously, you will most likely also be assigned to projects you did not necessarily have any prior familiarity with. I would advise new interns not to panic and to embrace the opportunity. I personally worked for a large part of my internship on organised crime, a topic that was rather new to me, and I really enjoyed researching it. I now know various things about drug trafficking and scam compounds in the Golden Triangle, but also on the illegal timber trade in Malaysia.
What achievements or contributions are you most proud of from your time here?
During my time at HCSS, I decided to write my own snapshot. This is an opportunity offered to all interns to work on their own project, which they will pick, research, and write under close supervision from an analyst of your choice. I personally chose to focus on how the mining sector is changing amid the emergence of new non-traditional actors, with a case study on Saudi Arabia. This was a great opportunity, as I got the chance to take the leadership on a project: finding a theme, coming up with a structure, conducting research, and doing all the writing. I also could count on Strategic Analyst and Chair of the Energy Security and Critical Minerals Programme Irina Patrahau, who supervised me during the process. Building on her expertise, she guided and supported me through the project, allowing me to end up with something I am proud of.
This interview was conducted by HCSS Communications & Events Officer, Stephanie Govaerts