Far away but really close

3 years ago I graduated from ETH Zurich and settled in Singapore to start my own research. I still cannot believe I am there. With the internet, social media and the international environment of the university, I could be anywhere. These days, regularly watching the international news, checking in on people, and holding online meetings, the feeling is stronger than ever. Here, we have been scared since end of January; in March, we watched Europe, then the US, and tried to prepare for the situation that is now here as well: staying at home.

Excepting the weather perhaps, there is not much difference between our respective households across the world: new routines have started, as have alternating cycles of stress, frustration and resilience. Professionally, as most groups that carry out experimental research, our scientific output is quite hindered.

As we are trying to develop new additive manufacturing paths for creating stiff materials with functional properties and structural resilience, a “normal” day would have seen the 3D printers running full speed, indenters and furnaces hot, and students at the electron microscopes or buzzing around in our chemical laboratory. Luckily, online teaching, chats and meetings were already in place. Our WhatsApp group keeps everybody’s spirits up with daily messages of fun facts we learn, although adjustments are still to be made to regain focus and productivity.

With the cancellation of many events and the interruption of lab work, it is tricky to find constructive ways to minimise the impact of the crisis on our academic career. To make the most of this sudden “free” time, our group has embarked on online discussions on how to write scientific paper. My students being only in their first year of their PhD, this is a good preparation for their upcoming Qualifying Exam, and should hopefully result in their first publication. Planning purchase of equipment and hiring of staff is also a main activity, with a new grant kicking in soon.

The situation is providing unexpected opportunities to meet and communicate with new people, and even attend some events, via various online platforms. This has included a PhD defence by a former colleague at ETH Zurich, video recordings and discussions for international grant proposals, or just informal “real” chats with a colleagues I only knew by email so far. While developing the skills of video recording and webinars, keeping good humour and discussing science and an exciting projects, one almost forgets what’s going on outside.

In addition, a professional Twitter newsfeed is also a fantastic “energy-booster”, when following colleagues, journals or institutions sharing pictures of their cooking talents or research creativity. We found that talks and lectures available on Youtube or even the ETH videoportal were also very effective in maintaining motivation and curiosity.

Creative, energetic and enthusiastic people are definitely also contagious. Luckily, this can be transmitted by virtual means!

Career development for students, Alaina Levine talks (example: Networking yourself to a great career):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYTVNJ7caGE

Extra motivation for women in engineering (ETH Zurich symposium):
https://video.ethz.ch/events/2019/ws500.html

Tedx 15 min talks (example: Cultural collision by Adirupa Sengupta):

Incoming lectures at ETH Zurich (a mine of information and presenting skills examples - some in German):
https://video.ethz.ch/speakers/lecture.html

Lectures and conferences from Collège de France (example: symposium “Filling Gaps in Materials Space: Methods and Applications” – some in French):
https://www.college-de-france.fr/site/en-yves-brechet/symposium-2013-10-14-10h00.htm

Lectures and conferences from US Universities (example: soft Materials for studying hard biological problems):
https://nanohub.org/resources/31418

The thing that keeps me busiest at the moment is: reading-writing-meeting
My favourite app is: TripleTown
One book or movie I recommend: Paddington I
And if all else fails, my instant pick-me-up is: Edith Piaf - La vie en rose