Outreach Coordinator and Harry Potter fan in one

By Tina Larsen, tila@sdu.dk

Sara completed her Master programme in Chemistry the summer of 2017, and during her studies she has been employed as a tutor, a student assistant and editor of Hjerneblod at the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy. She had been employed for two months as a research assistant when the position as Outreach and Education Coordinator was advertised.

Dissemination of research suits her well

"The position as Outreach and Education Coordinator really suits me. I like having contact with lots of different people, and I also have a real passion for disseminating our research to the general public. The challenge of disseminating research to ordinary people undoubtedly lies in translating some very complicated scientific material into something that can be grasped by different age groups - even for someone who is as immersed in the world of science as I am. A playful and unconventional approach to things is crucial if you want your message to be understood by the majority of people. One of the most fun things I've been involved in so far was the Harry Potter Festival during the autumn holiday. I dressed up as a witch and created 'magic' using household chemicals. It was fantastic to see the enthusiasm in the children's eyes, and the fact that it was in the Harry Potter universe was an extra bonus for a major Harry Potter fan like me," says Sara with a big smile.

Father was a science teacher

Sara is 27 years old, lives in the Odense suburb of Bolbro, and although the surname Zachhau could well indicate other ethnic roots Sara is originally from Glamsbjerg in West Funen and has very Danish parents. Sara attended both primary and secondary school in Glamsbjerg, and her interest in science started early on in primary school:

"My father taught physics and chemistry at my primary school, and although he didn't teach me, we spent a lot of weekends doing experiments in the school's laboratory, and I've taken the joy of laboratory work with me ever since. Actually, I had a brief dalliance with the Physics programme before I started Chemistry, but I missed being in the laboratory. I like that chemistry is practical, but can only happen based on your theoretical knowledge. It's also great when the results are successful," explains Sara.

Science is a lifestyle

When talking to Sara, it is clear that science is something she is very passionate about and which plays a large role in her life. When talk turns to her Master's thesis, there is almost no end to her enthusiasm:

"It was a really intense ending to my thesis. Particularly because I was taking two different tracks: one about analytical chemistry and chemical lake restoration, and one about NMR analyses of samples from the subsoil in Jutland. But it all worked out in the end, which was nice. I also think that at the Faculty of Science you become very much part of the research group with which you're writing your Bachelor project, Master's Thesis and so on, which is very unique," says Sara.

Although Sara repeatedly mentions that the job as Outreach and Education Coordinator is a steep learning curve for her, and that the switch from student to employee has been a challenge, it is clear that she has already settled into her new role at FKF.

Thank you to Sara for a fine and enlightening interview!