Meet the blogger – Elodie Eiffener
Hallå! My name is Elodie, originally from Luxembourg, postdoc at the Institute of Environmental Medicine (IMM) at KI, and I commute by bike (10km). You wonder, ok how strange is this last piece of information in the introduction, but I assure you, it has some relevance. Just this morning I was almost running to the office, after having sloppily parked my bike to get to the desk and write down these words – as, while biking – I always get the best ideas. Words are just popping up and running in my head as I pedal, sometimes making me to stop abruptly to write down some notes on my phone. And what do you need as a researcher (with a future)? – exactly, you got it, good ideas.
I have started working at KI around one and a half years ago and spent already a few months here when doing my Master Thesis. One thing that stood out to me, and still does, was the inspiring learning environment that KI offers. Surrounded by so many brilliant and motivated minds, one cannot NOT be inspired. Now maybe I am easy to impress, but still, I really want to highlight this privilege that so many of us get to experience here. At the same time, I admit that this is probably a common trait of universities: like-minded people, young energy, personally and professionally challenging work, beautiful campuses and just the fact that you have very diverse set of tasks and the opportunity to dwell in lifelong learning. Having also experienced less inspiring work environments in my career, I have come to realise how important it is to do what you really enjoy doing and to find topics and people that inspire you.
I studied BSc European Public Health (BEPH) and MSc Health Education and Promotion both at the University of Maastricht (the Netherlands), whilst doing a more clinically oriented PhD in Munich (Germany). Currently I am researching how the urban environment influences and shapes our health, a topic I am really thriving in and that feels important and relevant to me. I am passionate about the One Health approach and anything that relates to systems thinking and inter-/transdisciplinary work. Having recently attended the European Public Health Conference in Helsinki, I had some kind of full circle moment, realising that I will forever be a BEPHIE at heart. A true public health professional, an interdisciplinarian. The picture on the top shows the Swedish West Coast, where I have stayed at a Marine Research Centre for a workshop last summer which was mostly attended by chemists and toxicologists – and it was so much fun. In my free time, I enjoy the Swedish ‘friluftsliv’ with my Jack Russell Terrier child, Colin, who is very much like me, easily excited by (too) many things. I also tend to spend a lot of time on trains travelling through Europe, to visit family and friends – and I must admit, Stockholm is an unfortunate starting point.
I have a broad range of interests, thrive in connecting with like-minded people and do have some difficulty in saying no (still learning). Teaching is something I love, and I hope to get to do more of that in the future. I take joy in inspiring others with the things that excite me – planting seeds in other people’s heads. I am living for the moments when someone writes down something I said or happily engages in a lively discussion. A rare precious moment, where you leave an impression in a world that is so hard to be impressed.
Personally I believe that the rigid academic writing structure often makes it difficult to engage readers, seldom captures interest or leaves a lasting impression. Even LinkedIn posts make me feel sometimes like I need to tame down the enthusiasm to remain ‘professional’. Shout out to all my colleagues and friends who listen to me blabbing after having attended a conference or similar event, or who receive long emails from me musing about specific projects or topics. You know you who you are, and I love you for so patiently lending me your ears. This brings me to the end and very reason for showing up here on this platform – I am trying to channel some of this energy to hopefully pass it along to other easily inspired souls.
P.S. if you have the opportunity, take your bike to work tomorrow (yes even in January) – you will not regret it, I promise.
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