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Geomorphology

More than meets the “I”: The Retirement of a Mentor – Young Scientists and Their Inheritance

More than meets the “I”: The Retirement of a Mentor – Young Scientists and Their Inheritance

In preparation for the laudation of her retiring mentor – Professor Richard Dikau – Katharina Eibisch from the University of Bonn (Germany) thought about some life lessons she learned throughout her first year as a young researcher.

– written by Katharina Eibisch, University of Bonn –

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Katharina during her field observations (credit: Katharina Eibisch).

We as Geomorphologists are not only concerned with the shape of a form but also with its material. We investigate what lies beneath the surface. What is this form made of? What has shaped it? Looking back on my first year as a researcher I find this to be a great analogy for scientists at the beginning of their career. How your beginning career turns out is partly dependent of the qualities of yourself (the material) but also on impacts from your work-environment (the processes). I would like to share some data I collected on these shaping processes until now.

I have survived my first year as a researcher. Yes, survived. I am using this term deliberately since the beginning a scientific career can be a struggle and very demanding at times. It can feel like being thrown into the deep end, immediately teaching, being responsible for paper-work, administrative duties and so on. Just as it is with geomorphic forms the outcome of my first year was dependent on forces having an impact on me – processes shaping me. One of the main forces in any young scientist’s work-life is usually their superior – for the worse or for the better. In any case, one can pick the weeds and keep the flowers, maybe writing a mental not-to-do list? In my case I was lucky enough to not only have a boss, but a mentor sharing his experiences with me, teaching me to broaden my horizon and to see things differently. Almost like being handed different pairs of glasses that I can now look through.

Be aware of you scientific imprint. Point to a pile of unsorted sediment in a high mountain environment and ask “What is this?”. A Geomorphologist might tell you about moraines. A Biologist will give you the Latin names of the plants growing on the pile. This is one thing I was taught from the very beginning when investigating Geomorphology: “You cannot see, what you do not know” – My Mentor was always stressing the training a geomorphologist needs to “see” and “recognize” geomorphic forms and clues of processes at work. Since all observations and findings in science are theory-guided one must be aware of which theory one is guided by and maybe expand or modulate it – What you observe depends on what your research focus is – it’s great to have a focus, but be aware that you might overlook or underestimate other factors. Maybe you might even have to toss some “glasses” handed to you.

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Enjoying la dolce vita with the working group (credit: Katharina Eibisch).

Read & discuss together. My mentor told me that I must train my brain by reading extensively and exercise to recognize forms and identify clues of processes at work. But sometimes reading scientific literature can be like looking at a Where’s Waldo? book – there might be a precious piece of information that you are looking for in the jumble of content and data-tables. Or you cannot place the propositions made by the author in the context of the subject matter because you are distracted by many complementary info. Reading and discussing with your Supervisor & colleagues can be like discovering a technique to find Waldo quicker and understanding the composition and priority of information. So don’t only let your mentor tell you what to do, but also how to do it well.

Geo-more-FUN-ology. After a savory meal we usually enjoy a sweet desert. Having both flavors helps us not to get sick of too much salt or too much sugar. A demanding job can be just like that savory main dish – it can be delicious until you’re full – just as your job can take up most of your time, thoughts and energy – especially if you’re a beginner. Having a mentor can mean having someone to remind you of the life outside of the department and lab. Go read some non-geomorphic literature, visit the opera, and enjoy art and good Italian cuisine or anything you like. It is not only the variety that puts the fun & passion back into your profession but it can also be your mentor, helping you avoid or – if it’s too late – digest bitter and sour parts of the meal.

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Richard Dikau as always: Passionate for Geomorphology (credit: Sabrina Walker).

– written by Katharina Eibisch, University of Bonn –

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Sabine Kraushaar works as postdoc in the ENGAGE Group at the University of Vienna (Geomorphological Systems and Risk Research). Her research until now included soil erosion studies, geochemical sediment fingerprinting and sediment transport modelling in northern Jordan.


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