Soapbox Science 2021 Online

Soapbox: Did you choose a scientific career or did the scientific career choose you?

Roukaya Dekhil: That is a hard philosophical question, but for the sake of it, I would say I chose the scientific career. I am a person who can’t accept an idea without understanding its origin and the logic behind it. This is the main reason why I chose physics, since it provides answers to some questions we always ask ourselves on a daily basis, of triggers news questions that stimulate the imagination. Finding answers to them is always entertaining and fruitful.

SB: What was the key moment that brought you to the place where you are today?

SB: What is the most exciting aspect of your research?

RD:

• Learning and developing new skills every day not only in research but also on the philosophy of life. 
• I find that Intellectual pleasure is very important and should be reconsidered in society. Doing research is one of the ways to cultivate it and sculpt it in a good manner. 
• Discovering answers to the most fundamental questions about the world surrounding us ! Simply put: how things work and interconnect with each other.

SP: What challenges do you encounter in science?

RD:

• Theoretical physics and especially quantum gravity is not as easy as it seems. Therefore the field  itself is challenging on all intellectual levels.
• The politics behind the scene in the research community is also is bit overwhelming sometimes, especially if one do not agree to the “rules of the game”
• The lack of funding and more generally, the under evaluation of the research in natural sciences and favouring different subjects to invest in is something really discouraging. 

SP: What motivates you to give a talk in Soapbox Science?

RD: I like  talking about science, I think it brings some kind of joy and satisfaction to be able to break down scientific thoughts to people.