“The rules are often less strict in practice.”

Do you find it difficult to explain your research topic to others?

Ted: “I don’t have a hard time explaining, but sometimes it’s hard to get people interested. A lot of people think they don’t like history in the first place. They turn away when I say I do historical research. However, I also try to convey my enthusiasm for my research. Maybe every now and then I’ll convince someone that history can be fun.

Sarah: “Everyone can imagine the behavior of mosquitoes biting. It’s not hard to explain, but it raises a lot of strange questions. Mosquito preference is very complex and there is no single determining factor. This sometimes causes confusion, as people like to see a clear answer.

How do you make sure you don’t end up with tunnel vision?

Sarah: “Discussing plans with colleagues at an early stage can be a solution. Paper outline Make and discuss with my supervisor. If I work from home and get stuck, I often go for a walk.

Ted: “Our department has lunch every day with all the colleagues who are physically present at the university. During these lunches, we often talk about our research. These different perspectives often help. I also try to read books and articles written by my colleagues on a regular basis to make sure I don’t miss anything.

Do you think it is important for scientists to be able to explain their research and its results to others, outside of science?

Ted: “I don’t think you can expect every scientist to be able to do that. Everyone has different qualities, and one person is simply better at explaining things than another. However, that doesn’t mean that another person can’t be a great scientist. I think it’s important that there are one or more people within a research group who can explain the research topic within that group. A lot of our research is of course funded by taxpayer money, so that has to be taken into account in some way.

Sarah: “It’s not a requirement to be a good scientist, but it’s certainly a good quality. Very few people outside the scientific field read scientific articles, and they are an important means of communication within the academy. To reach this group as well, and thus bring science closer to society, different types of communication are essential.