NANOProfile-Q&A BärbelandEva:thewomenbehindtheCofEinHelgoland Dr. Bärbel Wichmann and Dr. Eva-Maria Brodte are two beloved elements behind the coordination of the NF-POGO Centre of Excellence at the Alfred Wegener Institute, in Helgoland. Over the past years, they have been responsible for supporting and guiding dozens of CofE scholars from all around the world. There were certainly many challenges they had to face, but the astonishingsuccessoftheprogramme,andtheacknowledgementofthescholars are proof that there is nothing that they cannot achieve. On behalf of those who had the pleasure to meet them, we would like to express our utmost gratitude to BärbelandEva!
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When did you join and what is your role at the NF-POGO Centre of Excellence for Observational Oceanography? I had the pleasure to join the NF-POGO Centre of Excellence as assistance to Dr. Eva-Maria Brodte in August 2019. My tasks are very diverse. I support the CofE in all organisational matters. I have close contact with the scholars, authorities and teachers who enrich the CofE with their expertise. My aim is to ensure that the CofE runs smoothly so that all scholars can devote themselves fully to their development – in every regard.
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What lessons have you learned by dealing with so many different cultural backgrounds over the years? First of all: that I never stop learning. Through many scholars I have learned and internalised that my view of the world is always only a part of it and that the diversity of our life worlds is a great enrichment. It starts with the delicious dishes that the scholars share with us, and extends to the way they deal with difficult situations and the ease with which the scholars form meaningful friendships. It is beautiful to witness how these bonds form between people from such different cultural backgrounds. It makes me believe in the words of the Indian poet Arundhati Roy: “Another world is not only possible, she’s on her way”.
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What would be the most challenging situation you have experienced with the NF-POGO CofE so far? That was at the very beginning of my time at the CofE: I received the new participants alone in Berlin. After the inauguration, it turned out that there were bedbugs in the hotel. By that time, Eva Brodte had joined us and we had to find a way to get rid of the bugs from luggage and clothes. The AWI's infrastructure helped us: we were able to use the Icecore Lab's freezer rooms for this. There were also CofE alumni helping us. Such a stressful time right at the beginning of the programme was on the one hand difficult, but on the other hand it brought the group together.
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cohort 2019-2020 Credits: P. Carrasco e h t & l e Bärb
Bärbel & P 2020- OGOnians from 2021 C ohort Credits: F.
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om s fr n a i o n alin OGO rt Credits: D. V P o & h ten 19 Co s r o 0 h 2 el, T 2018Bärb Contact us: info@nf-pogo-alumni.org NANO website: www.nf-pogo-alumni.org
