Beyond the Lab Coat - Emiliana Fabbri (Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland)

Emiliana in childhood and now - co-leading the Electrocatalysis and Interface group at the Electrochemistry Laboratory of the Paul Scherrer Institute.

Did you dream of becoming a scientist as a child?
Not really. As a child, I dreamed of many different careers, ranging from writer to veterinarian or even horse rider. My favorite subjects in high school were literature and philosophy. However, I was also strong in chemistry and mathematics, and I always wanted to contribute to a more sustainable world.

For this reason, I studied Materials Science, and during my PhD and postdoctoral journey, I had the opportunity to work in different countries, including the USA and Japan. Over time, reading became my hobby, and science became my profession (but somehow also my hobby!).  

What inspired you to pursue science?
I studied Materials science because one of my favorite books as a child was “The Big Book of Why?” I was always fascinated by why different materials have the properties they do. Why is something red and not blue? So now I look at the electronic and local structure of materials to understand why some materials are good at converting energy into hydrogen, and use this understanding to develop more efficient and sustainable materials for hydrogen production.

What do you love most about being a scientist today?
Changing our energy system is possible, and contributing to that change is a duty and an honor. Fundamental science done at PSI can greatly contribute to more sustainable technologies, such as fuel cells and electrolyzers. In addition, supporting the new generation of scientists is crucial to this transformation.   

What’s one myth about scientists you’d love to bust?
People usually see the successful results, like developing efficient water-splitting materials, but behind that are many failed attempts. Each failure teaches us something new and brings us closer to the final breakthrough.

What’s your favorite non-science hobby?
Considering that my new group leader position involves a lot of desk work, I now really enjoy spending time working in my garden and walking in nature.

If science were a movie genre, what would it be?
For sure, science fiction!

What’s your favorite movie?
It’s impossible to choose only one!

What’s your favorite book?
It’s impossible to choose only one!

What music or song always inspires you?
I love a multidisciplinary approach, and the same applies to music—I enjoy many different styles and genres.

If you weren’t a scientist, what would you be doing today?
Writer, philosopher, journalist… There are so many possibilities that I would truly love to become.

If you could invite any scientist—past or present—to dinner, who would it be?
Marie Skłodowska-Curie.

Beyond the Lab Coat - Mairis Iesalnieks (Riga Technical University)

Did you dream of becoming a scientist as a child?
As unusual as it sounds, I never really had a dream profession. I was always passionate about learning and enjoyed discovering new things. I was always bored in school, so I looked for ways to entertain myself.

What inspired you to pursue science?
I would say that my chemistry teacher was always passionate about chemistry, and she really inspired me to pursue a career, initially not in science, but at least in chemistry first.

What do you love most about being a scientist today?
A lack of routine means you are always doing something new and trying different things to achieve a goal. You must be creative sometimes.

What’s one myth about scientists you’d love to bust?
That all scientists wear white coats and do things nobody is interested in. From the outside, our work may seem useless, but with science, you never know where it can lead; one small deviation from the course can result in a highly beneficial discovery.

What’s the weirdest or most unexpected thing you’ve learned in your field?
Nothing is fixed, everything changes constantly, and it's very easy to be left behind.

What’s your favourite non-science hobby?
I really enjoy travelling. I think visiting new places helps you look at the world with a different perspective, allowing you to widen your horizon and accept things from a new viewpoint.

If science were a movie genre, what would it be?
I think the most suitable genre would be a fantasy movie. You never know where you can end up; the journey is unpredictable, sometimes dangerous, but the finality is always something breathtaking.

What’s your favourite movie?
I like the Harry Potter series. I always enjoyed the mystical aspect of it. Who knows? Maybe because of that, I like science; you can never be sure what to expect.

What’s your favourite book?
I don’t really have one favourite book, but I really enjoy travel descriptions. You can travel with the author to the new and unseen locations without leaving the room.

Beyond the Lab Coat - Antons Hančevskis (Institute of Electronics and Computer Science)

Did you dream of becoming a scientist as a child? If not, what was your childhood dream job?
To be honest, I didn’t dream of becoming a part of the scientific world; I was much more focused on something in engineering or management. For a long time, I wasn’t even aware of the scale of the scientific community in Latvia or how developed it actually is. However, since joining the LACISE research team, I’ve been discovering this world and diving deeper into it every day.

What inspired you to pursue science?
My primary drive came from a desire to delve deeper into Energy Systems and science itself. The turning point was when Anna Mutule, my professor at Riga Technical University (and supervisor for both my Bachelor’s and Master’s theses and upcoming PhD thesis), offered me a fantastic opportunity to join the LACISE project alongside a team of scientists from FEI (Institute of Physical Energetics) and EDI (Institute of Electronics and Computer Science). It was an opportunity I couldn't refuse.

What do you love most about being a scientist today?
As a relative newcomer to science, what I value most is the community. I love meeting people who have been in research for a long time, learning from them, and listening to stories about the various projects they’ve worked on. It is incredibly inspiring and constantly gives me new ideas about what I could be a part of in the future.

What’s one myth about scientists you’d love to bust?
I haven’t collected enough myths to bust just yet! But I’m keeping my ears open and hope to identify a few good ones in the near future.

What’s the weirdest or most unexpected thing you’ve learned in your field?
I was surprised by the paradox of collaboration. I’ve learned how difficult it can be to gather information and initiate cooperation with stakeholders in the field—even when they are interested and would clearly benefit from it. Convincing people to take that first step and actually start working together is often harder than the technical work itself.

What’s your favourite non-science hobby?
I really enjoy skiing. Every year, I try to travel to the Alps with my family. For me, that is the ultimate holiday—it’s the one place and activity where my body and soul can recharge to the maximum.

If science were a movie genre, what would it be?
Science Fiction, without a doubt. Most things we see in Sci-Fi films eventually come to life. And if they haven't yet, it probably just means it’s too early, and we need to wait a bit longer for the technology to catch up.

What’s your favourite movie?
The Devil Wears Prada. It’s a nice, light movie with a good storyline and brilliant acting. Also, the music there is great.

What’s your favourite book?
I wouldn’t say I have a single favourite book, but I thoroughly enjoyed Theodore Dreiser's novel The Financier. It tells the story of a financial genius and captures the intense atmosphere of the business world, ambition, and the complex psychology behind success and power.

What music or song always inspires you?
I really enjoy Ozzy Osbourne. His music holds a massive amount of energy that always gets me going.

If you weren’t a scientist, what would you be doing today?
That is an easy one to answer because I am doing it alongside research. Outside of science, I work as an Electrical Engineer and the Head of the Technical Department at a firm. We manufacture low-voltage power distribution and automation panels, and design and assemble busbar systems for data centres and industrial buildings.

If you could invite any scientist—past or present—to dinner, who would it be?
I would be very happy to have dinner with Ferdinand Porsche. While he might not be strictly labeled a "scientist" in the academic sense, he was a genius engineer and a true pioneer in the automotive industry.

Beyond the Lab Coat - Ainārs Knoks (Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia)

Did you dream of becoming a scientist as a child?
I didn't dream of being a scientist because I had no idea that it was an option. But I had a lot of curiosity.

What inspired you to pursue science?
My teachers in school helped me to have the courage to try.

What do you love most about being a scientist today?
I enjoy investigating how reality emerges and is expressed.

What’s one myth about scientists you’d love to bust?
That science is deterministic and final. There are many unknowns, and we have only models (assumptions) of how things "work"; science is the process of investigation rather than a final destination.

What’s the weirdest or most unexpected thing you’ve learned in your field?
The most important part of good science and interesting discoveries is a good team; people are the most important investment/value.

What’s your favorite non-science hobby?
Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA)/ Reconstruction, which involves swords, armor, and fighting/fencing.  

If science were a movie genre, what would it be?
It would have somewhat individual genre mixing sci-fi, documentaries, reality TV, with a sprinkle of psychedelics.

What’s your favorite movie?
Jawan

What’s your favorite book?
The Hobbit

What music or song always inspires you?
That depends on the task at hand. But I always enjoy Heavy or Hardcore Metal with some growling or excellent vocals (Slaughter to Prevail, Lamb of God, Disturbed, Paleface Swiss, Slipknot, etc.).

If you weren’t a scientist, what would you be doing today?
Honestly, it's hard to imagine myself as anything else, but if I had to choose, I would be either a Viking or an engineer.

If you could invite any scientist—past or present—to dinner, who would it be?
Nicola Tesla or Richard Feynman could be very interesting to talk to.