Sona Raeissi, 35, from Iran, a PhD student in the department of Physical Chemistry and Molecular Thermodynamics, defended her thesis this week. She’s married, has a young son and has lived in the Netherlands for four years.
Why did you choose TU Delft?
“Why not? It’s an international technological university with very high quality research and excellent facilities; the Laboratory of Applied Thermodynamics and Phase Equilibria, where I work, is one of the world’s leading groups in phase behavior measurements; I have an exceptional supervisor who’s both a teacher and a father, plus an adequate PhD salary; Delft’s a charming, peaceful little town; Holland’s a tolerant country with respect for all ideas and faiths….”
At TU Delft, do you feel you’re working at an international university?
“Very much so: a stroll through the TU canteens is proof of this, and in our own group, we’ve always triumphantly outnumbered the Dutch!”
What one thing would you change about the TU?
“The professorial ‘chair’ system! It’s totally irrational and unfair to many brilliant lecturers, who will ultimately retire without the deserving title.”
In the field of science and technology, is there one person (living or dead) who you particularly admire?
“I’m a scientist, but the two famous people I passionately admire are both artists: Abbas Kiarostami, Palm d’Or winning Iranian director, and Norman Rockwell, former Saturday Evening Post illustrator. They both have extremely sensitive eyes that penetrate the human soul, delicately portraying its most intense beauties. They’re both visual artists, but their work is poetry.”
Why did you decide to make your career in science/technology?
“If you walk into any elementary school in Iran and ask the kids, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”, you won’t get the expected answers: astronaut, shark dentist, teacher, fireman, Superman…okay, maybe 10% will say one of these, but the remaining 90% will be absolutely certain that they want to be doctors or engineers! Besides, I’d have made a lousy economist!”
If you weren’t a scientist, what profession would you like to have?
“A graphic designer, but having formed my personality in a field where things are either right or wrong, can (usually!) be proven, I wonder how I’d cope in a world where personal taste rules? We scientists can prove it and still we have our share of fights! What an absolutely crazy world those artists must inhabit!”
What’s the greatest challenge facing mankind in the 21st century?
“Decreasing injustice and providing a minimum humane standard of living for people throughout the whole world.”
What feature of Dutch society do you like most?
“In today’s industrialized world, where money does most of the talking, the Dutch have managed to keep some farmer genes in their blood. Quality of life has not yet fully given way to quantity of possessions, and so, the Dutch are still enjoying a rather healthy society as a whole.”
Have you acquired any ‘Dutchness’ as a result of living here?
“I’ve somewhat picked up the traditional Dutch eating habits: a calcium-packed light lunch of bread, cheese and milk, followed by a 6 o’clock warm dinner. This way one prevents the double dreads of a stuffed belly-sleepy afternoon and a bad night’s sleep following a late dinner.”
Do you have favorite place in Delft?
“With all Delft’s charms, it may sound awkward, but one of my favorite places is a tunnel! The Princess Irene tunnel (or the ‘Aldi tunnel’ as we students know it) with its ever-changing, dynamic, energetic, and youthful graffiti covering the walls!”
What causes you the most anxiety?
“The thought of coming face to face with severe suffering or death of loved ones.”
How would you like to die?
“At 100-years-old with an intact set of teeth! No, seriously, before my husband, most certainly before my child… at 100-years-old with an intact set of teeth!”
Why did you choose TU Delft?
“Why not? It’s an international technological university with very high quality research and excellent facilities; the Laboratory of Applied Thermodynamics and Phase Equilibria, where I work, is one of the world’s leading groups in phase behavior measurements; I have an exceptional supervisor who’s both a teacher and a father, plus an adequate PhD salary; Delft’s a charming, peaceful little town; Holland’s a tolerant country with respect for all ideas and faiths….”
At TU Delft, do you feel you’re working at an international university?
“Very much so: a stroll through the TU canteens is proof of this, and in our own group, we’ve always triumphantly outnumbered the Dutch!”
What one thing would you change about the TU?
“The professorial ‘chair’ system! It’s totally irrational and unfair to many brilliant lecturers, who will ultimately retire without the deserving title.”
In the field of science and technology, is there one person (living or dead) who you particularly admire?
“I’m a scientist, but the two famous people I passionately admire are both artists: Abbas Kiarostami, Palm d’Or winning Iranian director, and Norman Rockwell, former Saturday Evening Post illustrator. They both have extremely sensitive eyes that penetrate the human soul, delicately portraying its most intense beauties. They’re both visual artists, but their work is poetry.”
Why did you decide to make your career in science/technology?
“If you walk into any elementary school in Iran and ask the kids, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”, you won’t get the expected answers: astronaut, shark dentist, teacher, fireman, Superman…okay, maybe 10% will say one of these, but the remaining 90% will be absolutely certain that they want to be doctors or engineers! Besides, I’d have made a lousy economist!”
If you weren’t a scientist, what profession would you like to have?
“A graphic designer, but having formed my personality in a field where things are either right or wrong, can (usually!) be proven, I wonder how I’d cope in a world where personal taste rules? We scientists can prove it and still we have our share of fights! What an absolutely crazy world those artists must inhabit!”
What’s the greatest challenge facing mankind in the 21st century?
“Decreasing injustice and providing a minimum humane standard of living for people throughout the whole world.”
What feature of Dutch society do you like most?
“In today’s industrialized world, where money does most of the talking, the Dutch have managed to keep some farmer genes in their blood. Quality of life has not yet fully given way to quantity of possessions, and so, the Dutch are still enjoying a rather healthy society as a whole.”
Have you acquired any ‘Dutchness’ as a result of living here?
“I’ve somewhat picked up the traditional Dutch eating habits: a calcium-packed light lunch of bread, cheese and milk, followed by a 6 o’clock warm dinner. This way one prevents the double dreads of a stuffed belly-sleepy afternoon and a bad night’s sleep following a late dinner.”
Do you have favorite place in Delft?
“With all Delft’s charms, it may sound awkward, but one of my favorite places is a tunnel! The Princess Irene tunnel (or the ‘Aldi tunnel’ as we students know it) with its ever-changing, dynamic, energetic, and youthful graffiti covering the walls!”
What causes you the most anxiety?
“The thought of coming face to face with severe suffering or death of loved ones.”
How would you like to die?
“At 100-years-old with an intact set of teeth! No, seriously, before my husband, most certainly before my child… at 100-years-old with an intact set of teeth!”
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