Sibylla Baker, Arya Berry-Singh, Julia Van Rooyen
24th September, 2024
From left to right: Arya, Sibylla, Julia, Clarissa, Paola
On the Grade 7 field trip to the Gobabeb research station, we were introduced to about 15 scientists from around the world. Of those 15, two female scientists, Paola Formenti and Clarissa Baldo, who are conducting experiments on the air particles in Gobabeb, agreed to be interviewed by Julia, Arya, and Sibylla.
A computer inside the lab, which is in a container
When asked about their work, the scientists said their job mainly consists of investigating how the air particles affect the climate. Paola’s favorite part of her job is fieldwork, going out and seeing the world through different eyes. Clarissa’s favorite part is working in the lab with the collected samples, where you are more in control. Both women implied that if they were to make a groundbreaking discovery, the first person they would tell would be their families. They were both curious as children, wanting to find out more about the environment and how it works. Both think that science is important because it measures how nature is constantly changing.
A wind measurer- the tail broke, so the scientists had to construct a new one with what they had on hand
Scientists as a whole face many challenges. One is working together with your colleagues, while another is balancing your work and your personal life. Communication and getting permission for an experiment are also difficult. Lastly, staying in touch with family and friends can be hard when you have to travel for work. Female scientists, however, face many other challenges. Some challenges they face are being outnumbered by male scientists and being afraid to sound unintelligent. Another challenge is being so afraid to speak that when they do speak, people are surprised that they know how to talk. Even now, as society is changing for the better, there are still people who will judge individuals based on their gender.
Fog collectors- the plastic bags are to prevent sand from getting stuck inside whilst being unused
The project being worked on now is a study of mineral dust. Paola and Clarissa came to Namibia because of the interesting factors such as the cold & damp Atlantic Ocean and the hot & dry Namib Desert. The scientists use two main types of machines- the observational machines and the chemical analyzers. The observational machines make observations in the atmosphere and filter out the air so that the scientists can study the concentration of different aerosol particles left behind. The chemical analyzers examine the particles in the lab to find out what the particles are made of. They also use wind sensors and other instruments to measure the weather. Their project will eventually end, but for now, they come for one month every two years.
Filters showing samples of the air particles - the darker the color, the more particles that were filtered out from the air
All in all, the life of a scientist, however challenging, is extremely fascinating, important, and compelling. There is every chance that anyone could make a groundbreaking discovery that could change the world!
The Grade 7’s, discussing what they had learned at the research station
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