Decided to join SMERU because of my strong interest in the relationship between evidence and public policy. My experience as a journalist opened my eyes to the reality that many public policies are made without being grounded in adequate evidence. I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of the factors contributing to this gap and felt that SMERU, with its reputation as a leading research institute focused on poverty and inequality reduction, was the right place to explore this issue.
My best experience at SMERU was the opportunity to collaborate with a team of researchers who were not only dedicated but also critical and supportive. I was deeply inspired by the work environment that fostered open dialogue and the exchange of insights.
One moment that often comes to mind is when we successfully produced research outputs that influenced government policies or decisions. My experience reinforced my belief in the importance of institutions like SMERU in promoting evidence-based policymaking.
