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The Paranal observatory in Chile: Dr. Johanna Hartke takes us to the frontier of astronomical observations
21st of December 2020 is an extremely interesting astronomical day, so in order to celebrate it, I have interviewed Dr. Johanna Hartke – an outstanding astronomer who works for the European Southern Observatory at the Paranal observatory in Chile. What makes 21st of December so special? In addition to the winter solstice – when we mark the shortest day in the year and the official start of the winter - this year we also enjoy two other exciting astronomical events: the peak of the Ursids meteor shower and the so-called “great conjunction” of Jupiter and Saturn.
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Lise Meitner: yes to nuclear fission, no to an atomic bomb!
Lise Meitner: a physicist who never lost her humanity. This is the inscription of Lise Meitner’s headstone and quite rightfully so. I am not sure if any other Physicist showed more dedication and humanity while searching for the ultimate truth than Meitner; yet, despite 19 nominations for the Nobel Prize in chemistry, and 29 nominations for the Nobel Prize in physics, for many people Meitner still remains an unknown name! What makes Lise Meitner especially prominent and inspiring physicist in my eyes is not only her brilliant mind; the World of physics has seen many of those. Instead, is her integrity, her accountability and her scientific ethics. Unlike some of…
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Workism and how we forgot that we are more than our job
Remember: you are more than your job. The damaging idea "to hustle" - that work-obsessed millennials nowadays support even more strongly with hashtags, "inspirational" posts and quotes, and seemingly overbooked calendars - is quickly creating a lonely youth with poor life-to-work balance, which in its strong desire to be authentic and unique, is achieving exactly the opposite. Remember: you are more than your work. Your uniqueness lies within you, not within your CV or office.
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Jane Goodall: wildlife’s researcher, animal and nature-protection activist you really need to know
"We are not separated from the rest of the animal kingdom, we’re part of it. Gradually that’s gone more and more mainstream. So that’s one thing, helping people understand that animals have personalities, minds and emotions, and now you can study those things." - Dr. Jane Goodall
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Searching for a PhD position in Germany? Here is what you need to know
A while ago, I did an interview with a friend of mine on the topic of: (finding a) PhD position in Germany. The interview is available later in this post. Nevertheless, as a first and the most important side remark - keep on reading and watch the interview if you are interested in: why should I go for a PhD position in Germany, eligibility criteria, scholarships and funding, what comes after the PhD, and so much more.
Ideas that matter: read, think, learn
