Soapbox Science 2024

Soapbox: What attracted you to Soapbox Science in the first place? Sum up your expectation of the Soapbox Event in three words.

Laura Hainke: The opportunity to share my research with the general public is quite appealing. I hope to inspire young girls who may be interested in a research career, inform anyone who is willing to listen about what is going on in our research groups, and exchange with people who may have different perspectives on our topic.

Soapbox: What role do you believe science communication plays in bridging the gap between researchers and the general public?

LH: I feel that in research, very little time is devoted to science communication, if at all. We end up writing papers that only colleagues in our academic niche can understand, and when a non-academic friend asks what we’re actually doing, the fastest answer is “it’s complicated”. But how can that be, if it is the general (mostly non-academic) public who funds our research? So to me, science communication is about letting the public know what projects their resources are going into, and why it’s important to keep funding them, which should be a must.

Soapbox: What is your day-to-day scientific-superpower and how does it help you with your work?

LH: Pragmatic thinking and self-organisation. I’ve invested some time over the years in finding out what tools and strategies work for me; now I stick to them, so I can work efficiently and actually be done with my tasks at the end of the day.

Soapbox: Do you have any fascinating do-it-at-home experiments, books, podcasts, or talks that you’d suggest for a good laugh or some interesting insights?

LH: I’m mainly interested in the intersection between sleep, brain activity, and light. As an “experiment”, for at least a week, try getting about 30 min of sunlight in the morning and reducing the amount of light you’re exposed to 2-3 hours before going to sleep. You’ll notice how much easier it is to go to bed at a reasonable time and wake up refreshed. Plus, do check out “Light O’Clock”, a podcast produced by our research team, to find out more about the influence of light on our lives!

Soapbox: What advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing a career in science, particularly young women who may be hesitant to enter the field?

LH: Well, just give it a try. 🙂 When choosing a field of study, research is one of the career options to pursue after graduating. Look for assistant researcher positions as a student (“HiWi”) and try to engage in multiple projects at university or in companies, to find out if you enjoy the kind of work.