iLEAPS Early Careers Scientist Podcast iLEAPS Early Career Scientist Network

During this podcast we discuss the paper:
"Reconciling the optimal and empirical approaches to modelling stomatal conductance"
Published in Global Change Biology, 2011.
We talk to the lead author Belinda E. Medlyn.
Follow this link to view the published article:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2010.02375.x

Today on the podcast we have a great opportunity to talk with Simon Clark, who is pursuing a career in Science Communication. Simon is communicating the findings from a broad range of topics within the Environmental Science, in video form on his successful YouTube channel, but also in his newest popular science book about the history of atmospheric research. In this episode, Simon is sharing his story from being interested in all aspects of nature as a child, through his days as a PhD student at the University of Oxford and until today where he works as a full-time science communicator. He also talks a little bit about what his thesis in Atmospheric physics was about and shares a wealth of information about the amazing things, but also some of the challenges of the work that he does. Finally, he gives valuable advice to anyone who would like to start a career in Science Communication. Check out his website to see and be up to date with everything Simon is doing: https://www.simonoxfphys.com/.

In this episode we talk with Aino Korrensalo, a postdoctoral researcher at the department of Enivronmental and Biological sciences at the University of Eastern Finland in Joensuu campus. She is researching the carbon cycling in boreal peatland ecosystems. She talks about the interesting aspects of her work as well as the challenges of writing the research proposals. In the end she gives advice to PhD students who are unsure if they would like to continue the academic career that they should not stress about that decision because most paths in life can be walked in both directions.

Today we chatted with Antonio Randazzo, a PhD student at the Fluid Geochemistry research group at the University of Florence. He studies gas emissions from soils around landfills, geothermal systems and volcanoes. In this episode talked about his passion for inorganic nature and about his academic career path that included many exchange periods around Europe. He shared some of the challenges in his PhD studies, but also the excitement to contribute to the scientific commnity. Finally, he admits that doing a PhD is not easy, but he does encourage potential new PhD students to join a group that is supportive, believes in them and encourages them to grow.

Jing Tang is an ecosysem modeller in the Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science in Lund University in Sweden and in the Ecoystem-Atmosphere interactions research group at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. She tells her story of doing the PhD studies in Lund after finishing her Master's degree in China, and continuing with a postdoctoral positoion in Copenhagen and Lund. She discussess the possibilities for learning and interesting scientific work in the field of ecosystem modelling, but also discusses a few of the challenges. She gives advice in the end to pay attention to not ignore some of the additional activities during scientific work, such as teaching and organizing courses and conferences, because they might be an important aspect in the selection for funding applications.

In this episode of the iLEAPS podcast we have the opportunity to chat with Flobert Ndah who is doing a PhD in the Environmental Ecology research group at the Universty of Easter Finland in Kuopio. Flobert is originally from Cameroon in Central Africa, but moved to Finland for his Master's studies and stayed there until today. He talks about his experiences of moving to a far-away country. He states his passion for nature that inspired him to conduct research in environmental science and talks about the details of his Master's and PhD work. He discussess the challenges of establishing a network of colleagues and aquiring new skills, but says that the learning process is rewarding and fun. Finally, he gives some very good advice for current and future PhD students, such as establishing the healthy work-life balance, staying positive and enjoying the opportunities that PhD studies provide.