This year, with Shadow Day being on April 1st, the fitting slogan was chosen for the initiative – "Career is no joke". It seems that Latvian youth took this message to heart, as a record number of "shadows" gathered at the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia (ISSP UL) to explore the daily work of a scientific research institute.
More than 70 students followed the work of researchers across several of the institute's laboratories – Spectroscopy Laboratory and EXAFS Spectroscopy Laboratory, Energy Materials Laboratory, Optical Materials Laboratory, and Organic Materials Laboratory, Micro and Nano Devices Laboratory, as well as Adaptive Optics Technology Laboratory. There were also participants interested in the administrative side of science, "shadowing" our finance and accounting specialists.
The shadows also had the opportunity to enter our institute's unique cleanrooms, where researchers work with nanotechnology innovations in a special, controlled environment. We are delighted to see that Latvian youth want to know more about careers in STEM fields, asking our researchers thoughtful questions and demonstrating real knowledge – the next generation of scientists is already beginning their journeys!
