Beyond the lab coat - Ņikita Griščenko (Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia)
Did you dream of becoming a scientist as a
child?
I haven’t dreamt of being a scientist as a child, I was playing with legos a
lot at that time, and thought I would be a architect or a builder in future,
but exactly in kindergarten, my teacher, said that I would become a scientist.
What inspired you
to pursue science?
I was inspired by
the desire to understand this world, to find out how everything works and by
what laws.
What do you love
most about being a scientist today?
You learn
something new every day.
What’s one myth about scientists you’d love to bust?I don't speak for all scientists, but I don't consider myself smart, although my friends do. Being a scientist doesn't mean just being smart; knowledge is built on diligence, patience, and consistency.
What’s the
weirdest or most unexpected thing you’ve learned in your field?
When I just
started studying in university, I was amazed at the variety of shapes and
structures of crystalline substances.
What’s your
favorite non-science hobby?
I play computer
games and board games with my friends. When I’m completely bored, I make
chainmail. And time to time I hunt with my dad.
If science were a
movie genre, what would it be?
Science would be a
thriller or a detective story because you don't always know where your research
might lead you…
What’s your
favorite movie?
Fight Club
What’s your
favorite book?
Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky
What music or song
always inspires you?
I listen to
Guided Meditation by Maciej Nowicki, when I am stuck with my thoughts and a
mental wall is in front of me.
If you weren’t a
scientist, what would you be doing today?
It's hard for me
to imagine myself anywhere outside of science.
If you could
invite any scientist—past or present—to dinner, who would it be?
If I had the opportunity, I would like to talk to Nikola Tesla, because
he did so much for humanity in the field of electrical engineering, radio
engineering and electrical engineering.