Denmark – what are the first associations that come to mind when you hear the name of this country? Copenhagen, Lego, Hans Christian Andersen, internship? Our colleagues Kuba and Łukasz had the opportunity to take part in a 2-week trip within the project "PartNETships: a network of key collaborations to bring research excellence to the Silesian University of Technology" funded by NAWA/Narodowa Agencja Akademickiej (grant number BPI/PST/2021/1/00039)". To find out what they were doing there and how they liked it, we asked them a few questions, which they were happy to answer. But first let’s find out what Denmark looks like, specifically Sønderborgv and the Mads Clausen Institute.
Denmark - A country that, like Poland, has 50 shades of grey in terms of weather. The trip was successful, the small quiet town people are nice and helpful. The university itself was a newly built building, very modernist, creating teaching heaters corresponding to the highest standards of both equipment and infrastructure. - describes Kuba.
Łukasz, what surprised you positively and what negatively during your trip?
I was positively surprised by the modern building of the institute, modern equipment, clean Danish towns, quiet surroundings, great views!
The negative is mainly that it is more grey and windy than in Poland when it comes to the weather. There is also expensive food in the restaurant (the cheapest kebab 35 PLN!) - although I set myself on it earlier, food of average quality - poorly seasoned.
And what did you do every day?
Kuba: During our stay, we studied samples such as SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), HIM (Scanning Helium Microscope), Raman (Raman Spectroscopy), and we also had the opportunity to learn about the research conducted by Prof. Yogendra Kumar Mishra’s team in nanoSYD. The people we had the opportunity to meet were very helpful and also shared both knowledge and curiosities related to the subject of their research and the university
Łukasz: We characterized samples from Poland (SEM, HIM, Raman). And we also synthesized tetrapods from zinc oxide - that's what Professor Mishra's group is doing.
Kuba, would you ever go back there again?
With great pleasure I would visit this university again, but in the summer time to experience the full potential of this place.
How would you compare your trip to India with your trip to Denmark?
Similar, because both here and here we characterized the material (yes, nanotubes). The food was much better in India. And it was easier to make new friends there.
Congratulations to our colleagues on their departure and wish more fruitful cooperation!
PartNETships: a network of key collaborations to bring research excellence to the Silesian University of Technology http://partnetships.eu/
