I started my career in science in the 1960s. At that time, I worked at the Institute of Physics of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. It had been my place of work until 1991. The location of the Institute was at Salaspils nuclear reactor and my work there was related to neutron activation analysis. We worked on the analysis of various objects - biological, geological, medical, and ecological. In 1991, the nuclear reactor was split away from the Institute of Physics and a Nuclear Research Center was established. It was a time of change. Since I worked in the field of the nuclear physics, I also started to work at this newly established center. We did not move to other location, but the institution was different. All this happened in the early 1990s, at the time when there were other conditions in the country and support for science was at its lowest. The neutron activation was in demand, though. Our field of work was interesting for geologists, biologists, doctors, and chemists. In 1993, I became the head of the Laboratory of Neutron Activation Analysis. This was followed by new developments related to the shutdown of the nuclear reactor, and so several laboratories wondered where to continue their work. One option was to join the Institute of Physics, but there were a couple of other options too. As a result, on 1 January 1999, we - 3 laboratories - joined the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia. We re-profiled from neutron activation analysis to radiation pollution measurement and monitoring. We were still located at the premises of the Salaspils nuclear reactor because our work required observing radiation safety measures and all the measuring equipment was there too. After that, the nuclear reactor was taken over by the Institute of Chemical Physics of the University of Latvia. And later, when it was taken over by the State Geology and Meteorology Center, we finally moved to ISSP UL. As a result, the Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions was merged with the Laboratory of Neutron Activation Analysis and Laboratory of Radiation Physics was established. Looking back, I can say that the work in Salaspils was interesting. When the nuclear reactor started operating, we were all young scientists. The analysis of neutron activation was also a new field of science then. It was a time of an uplift. When this stage of life ended, it was, of course, sad, and there were fewer and fewer of us left.

The Laboratory of Radiation Physics (RFL) at the ISSP UL was established in 1999 by uniting physicists from the research laboratories of the liquidated Nuclear Research Center of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. The results obtained by the RFL in collaboration with the scientific centers in Grenoble and Munich are of international importance. The data on the properties and structures of various nuclei are needed not only for supplementing our fundamental picture of the physical world, but also for nuclear applications in astrophysics, materials science, environmental research, medicine, and power industry. The results obtained by the RFL also make a practical contribution to the protection of Latvia's environment and the use of nuclear physics methods in other research areas.

Advances in science are ongoing. The achievements of various scales too. The research we work on are related to the structure of the nuclei of rare earth elements, the interaction of charged particles with materials, and the assessment of the effects of radiation on the environment. And all those studies are all still ongoing.

Thinking about the people in science, I have to say that we are all quite different. What is it we have in common? I think it is some kind of craziness. Physicists also differ greatly. My fellow student did not understand how I could do experimental work where results were not always predictable. But that’s the point! She was a physics lecturer and her work was more or less settled and foreseeable.

During school, I was good at mathematics and I liked the subject very much. In the 9th grade, a new physics teacher came to my school and he was able to generate interest in science. After school, when I had to decide what to study next, I thought I would choose mathematics. But I was encouraged to pursue physics, which I did. At my time, the physics students were initially taught only mathematics, which was followed by general physics and later by nuclear physics. Unfortunately, the lecturer at the University read this subject very monotonously and the students remained unenthusiastic. When the special courses in nuclear physics started, they piqued my interest as I already worked at the Laboratory of Nuclear Activation Analysis. The role of teachers is undeniable, as it is necessary to stimulate and develop interest in the subject.

My work life has been interesting. There was a brief collaboration with archaeologists, who were interested in the content of trace elements in bones related to the food chain: whether our ancestors were vegetarians or carnivores. Our task was to irradiate and analyze the bones found at the Burtnieki burial ground (Stone Age cemetery). It caused a great deal of awe, and one remembers such experience for years. It is gratifying that we managed to establish the Radioactivity Testing Laboratory, prepared its quality book, and obtained a certificate from LATAK (Latvian National Accreditation Bureau). It was an important job and investment.

I am a passionate mountain hiker. I have been to Caucasus, Pamir and Carpathian Mountains, Alps - you name it! The majesty of nature, standing on the top of a mountain, is indescribable. Of course, hiking is a great challenge, but when you get accustomed to the rhythm of it, it’s definitely worth it. Living an active lifestyle becomes an integral part of your life. You can't do without it!

I started working at the Institute after finishing my bachelor's studies. I developed my thesis at the University of Latvia in the field of physical chemistry, because I have always been more interested in physical chemistry. This is why the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia was a natural choice to start my career in science. I developed my bachelor's thesis in the Laboratory of Molecular Crystals, and it was about crystallization and polymorphism. Quite far from what I am doing now, but there are things that are also useful in my current scientific work. I work with sodium ion batteries, synthesize materials, and test their properties.

During my school years, I thought I would do something completely different. Given that I was very active and enjoyed speaking, it seemed to me that I could be an event manager, work in television or find my place in journalism. In the 7th grade, I changed schools and started to attend Riga State Gymnasium No 1 (known for its strong programs in the natural sciences, mathematics, and computer science), because sciences seemed easy. When the chemistry started, everything we learned seemed very logical, interesting, but I noticed that not for everyone. Many people think that chemistry is a great mystery, but for me everything seems obvious. My school and teachers motivated me. I have attended two schools. When I was in the first, I never thought that my future could be in science. In my second school, I had a wonderful chemistry teacher. Either I was good at understanding or he taught everything so intelligibly, but maybe those both factors together made me interested in chemistry. Teachers at school worked hard, helped, motivated, and encouraged students with potential. During secondary school, I participated in chemistry Olympiads, attended additional classes, and the teacher encouraged me. At one point, I realized that it would be illogical not to improve the acquired knowledge and go study something completely different. I have never regretted my choice because I enjoy everything we do and learn at the university. I feel that this is my place.

I have always liked the so-called “tough nut” tasks (ones that require not only knowledge, but also creative approach to solving them), which usually dominated at the Olympiads. I enjoyed looking for answers and, as it turned out, I was particularly successful at chemistry tasks. From the very beginning, I liked inorganic chemistry. I was also good at mathematics. There were not many research works in school and I was not particularly enthusiastic about them.

I came to the Institute to gain experience and learn more about scientific processes. The feeling - being in this field - is quite unreal. I am happy to come to work every day, because our work is diverse and we are constantly learning new things. It is a continuation of the school and the university. There is no routine here; you have to come up with new ideas all the time. This is a great environment for me to work in, and I really enjoy being here! I am currently in research, but I would like to be a lecturer at a university someday. While studying for a bachelor's degree, I worked as a chemistry teacher and organized extracurricular chemistry events once a month. I really enjoyed working with children, so I would love to teach scientists-to-be sometime in the future. It is a great pleasure that with your knowledge and experience you can spark a passion for the world of science.

The field I work in is still new to me; I have been in it for about a year now. I am still learning, trying to understand how everything works here. I am currently studying for a master's degree. If there will be a specific topic and motivation, I will definitely go on to doctoral studies.

Being in research, I realize that nothing stands still. You have to learn all the time - new equipment, new methods. There is never a routine. On the one hand, it is exciting, on the other hand, those who choose this path, should see it as an opportunity rather than a challenge.

I enjoy long walks - both in nature and in the city. I have always liked it. I love reading books and the theatre. Before the pandemic, I was an enthusiastic theatre-goer; I usually saw 2-3 plays a month. I particularly enjoy plays shown at the New Theatre of Riga and plays with unusual staging and presentation.

Whatever the situation and the challenge, I think it is better to try to do something rather than regret not doing it. The worst that can happen – you may fail or get a refusal. If you think about it, it is not that scary. By the way, quite often everything turns out to be fine. All you have to do is take a step and everything works out.

I started to acquire physics at the pre-school age. My first physics teacher was my father. He always taught me physics, often I did not even realize I was being taught. It started in early childhood when we did real research experiments, designed, and soldered. Essentially, it was testing, understanding, and applying the laws of physics. It was all being done without mentioning the word “physics” – my father knew how to pass it to us children as an exciting game that was inseparable from exploration of the world in all its other aspects – sports, art, language learning, mathematics, and music.

At school, I did equally well in many subjects, which made it difficult to choose the future field of studies. After a thorough consideration and discussions with my family, I decided to enroll to the Physics department of the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics, University of Latvia, because physics studies included and developed many skills in mathematics and engineering, as well as encouraged comprehension of nature. I thought at the time that versatile education like this would help me to choose what to do after the graduation, because when I started I thought that I would learn, advance myself and would get inspiration for further studies. I did not plan to become a scientist at the time. This changed when I came to the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia (ISSP UL) with the aim to develop my bachelor’s and master’s theses. I was particularly inspired by our joint work with Ēriks Birks, who suggested to focus on the research of lead-free ferroelectric materials and who later became my adviser. Watching the determination and enthusiasm of Ēriks Birks, I became even more fascinated with the world of science. Therefore, I continued to work at the ISSP UL. My present work is still related to the research of lead-free ferroelectric materials by developing the research in different directions and ways. I work in this field with great satisfaction. A true interest in science emerged during the research process when I worked on the specific topic with specific people, and in a specific field.

My daily work in science is diverse. It is one of the things I like about my job. Sometimes, there is routine because there are tasks that require patience and monotonous actions, such as taking a series of images on the microscope. However, the processing and analysis of the obtained results require creative approach and innovative ideas because there may be questions and even intrigues. When I am in the laboratory, I mostly work with the scanning electron microscope and obtain images of the materials under study and EDX spectra corresponding to the chemical composition of these materials. Once these images and spectra are obtained, a long time is devoted to analyzing the data. At the beginning of the research, hypotheses are put forward, further observations are predicted, and a work plan is set. I also take part in the making of compositions, formulating the task together with chemists, which means we predict how and what material will be synthesized, and I perform other experimental measurements. Based on the results, we form a link between the production procedure and the properties of the materials we observe and want to obtain. After that, the obtained results must be compiled, processed, and presented to the scientific community – in other words - it means writing of a scientific publication, presentations at conferences and workshops. Sometimes I give lectures to students on the topic of my work.

Although there are different views on scientists, each scientist is a personality. Indeed, there are skills common to many, such as independence, ability to see the details and the big picture, yet every single one of us is unique and has his/her own story. Work in science could be suitable for people who like independence. At the same time, many scientists have excellent communication skills, as many of us work in teams, and communicate with other scientists in Latvia and abroad on regular basis. I think scientists have always been interested in sharing their ideas or discoveries, so they are open to talking to the public.

Caring for the environment is particularly important to me, and I pay close attention to it on a daily basis. I am pleased that my work in science is linked to research that leads to the development of environmentally friendly solutions. Together with my colleagues, we are working on the research and development of new ferroelectric materials that do not contain chemically hazardous elements. Unlike the widely used ferroelectrics today, the new materials do not contain lead, which has been recognized as harmful to human health and the environment. By changing the concentrations of the components, choosing different production methods and their parameters, it is possible to change the properties of these materials within wide range. Currently we work on research and improvement of production process of lead-free ferroelectrics. I hope that our work will bring these materials closer to manufacturing.

I am glad both for the students who choose to conduct their research here at the Institute, where the work of scientists has become globally competitive due to the developed infrastructure, and for those who go to other European countries to study or develop their doctoral theses. It is a great feeling to be part of the global science. Development of the international co-operation provides an opportunity to do much more and participate in larger-scale research. I hope that more young people will choose to become scientists, because this is a high added value profession with a wide range of opportunities. As a winner of L`ORÉAL Latvian „For Women In Science” fellowship with the support of the Latvian National Commission for UNESCO and the Latvian Academy of Sciences” I have also visited schools and advised school youth to choose their future profession in the realm of science.

My second biggest passion after physics is music. I play drums in the percussion group "Samba de Riga", which performs hot Brazilian rhythms. Since 2010, I am the artistic director of this group. In addition to playing the drums and performing on stage, I create arrangements, choreography, conduct group rehearsals and teach young percussionists. I enjoy sporty and active lifestyle, but sometimes I also like some calmer activities. I have noticed that scientists choose hobbies that involve creative expression and often spend a lot of time developing their hobbies at a high level. Here, too, they make use of their earnest approach and grasp.

I became a researcher thanks to a set of conditions. When I was little, my mother often took me to her work at Daugavpils University. While she taught science (including physics), I played at the same auditorium. I had a dream that one day I would grow up and write on that board.

At school, I was good at all the subjects. I could not imagine coming to school unprepared. In mathematics, I loved calculation tasks – the more the better. I took part in countless Olympiads in almost every subject, from the physical sciences to languages and even home economics and technologies. During school I had to do two scientific research works, both of which I chose to do in physics. With one of these works, I won the first place in the national competition. I also applied for the Vītols Fund scholarship, and one of the questions in the interview was whether I had chosen a field of study. Looking at my achievements, I was advised to consider studying the natural sciences. That was the time I made the final decision to study physics, but I did not know yet that I would become a scientist.

I started my studies with great awe. After the first week, I went to the library for textbooks. There were so many books; I could cover whole bed in my dorm room. I was determined to meet all the challenges in my studies. And I did it perfectly well! The work I invested in the studies resulted in the title of "Student of the Year" at the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics, two red diplomas in physics, as well as scholarships of the University of Latvia Foundation. I was particularly pleased with the scholarship awarded by the MikroTik. My biggest achievement right now is the prestigious L’ORÉAL Baltic “For Women in Science” award.

I came to the Institute when I was a 2^nd year student. I was lucky that there was a job opportunity in the EXAFS spectroscopy laboratory at that time. Without realizing what I was really signing up to and encouraged by my mother, I took the first steps in science. Jānis Timošenko was my bachelor’s thesis advisor. He inspired me to work in science; he set a bar that I should strive for. I developed my master's thesis and doctoral dissertation under the supervision of Alexei Kuzmin, who is an outstanding scientist and an invaluable support in my career.

Our laboratory specializes in X-ray absorption experiments, which together with theoretical calculations allow obtaining unique information about the local atomic and electronic structure of the absorbing element. We perform experiments in synchrotron radiation centers throughout Europe, for example, PETRA III (Germany), SOLEIL (France), and ELETTRA (Italy). I was over the moon about the opportunity to go to ELETTRA in 2015 for the first time. We perform several experiments of this kind every year. When we return to Latvia, there is a lot of data to process and model. I spend most of my time at the Institute analyzing data and performing simulations. Such studies make it possible to understand how the structure of a material affects its properties and how it can be modified to obtain the desired effect.

As part of my doctoral dissertation, I study materials that change their color under the influence of temperature. To be able to control and use it in practice, it is important to understand how this color change is related to the local structure of the material. This is fundamental research.

X-ray detectors are the other topic we started to work on recently. We try to find a system of organic and inorganic materials that would react to X-rays and at the same time would be highly sensitive, flexible and operate at low voltage. These types of X-ray detectors could be used in various fields, such as medical diagnostics, security scanners, and scientific research.

I am incredibly happy about every scientific publication, which is a discovery of something new. It means that the work has been valuable.

In my spare time, I like to go hiking and cycling with my husband. Every year we take our backpacks and tents and go on trips to different countries. Trips to Iceland, Andorra and Nepal have been the most exciting. Those countries have unbelievably beautiful nature. Of course, walking many kilometers up and down the hill/mountain every day is not a walk in the park. Every research is like such journey and every publication is like a stopover. The road to new results may have been long and bumpy, but it is an indescribable pleasure to look back on it!

I remember how enchanted I was when my parents told me that tiny air molecules that cannot be seen with the naked eye surrounded us all, and that all substances were made up of atoms. It was a surprise to me - how could I possibly had not noticed small particles circling around me? I still remember the impression it had on me - it seemed so elusive and amazing, the world seemed full of secrets. Both my father and grandfather were physics teachers, and to some extent, they sparked my interest in physics - I understood that physics was something exciting and useful. During school, I read popular science articles and since I remember myself, I have had the desire to understand and comprehend what I see around me. Ever since I was a child, I was fascinated by everything related to the universe, galaxies, stars, and I wanted to understand how it all had formed. An endless territory to explore! In grades 11 and 12, I had a great physics teacher who knew how to generate interest in the world of physics. At that time, the idea of studying physics formed in my mind, but I also considered studying mathematics. Only in grade 12, I firmly decided to stay with physics, as it would allow me to learn much more about the world around me. 

I enrolled at the University of Liepaja in a Physics Bachelor program, which was just opened there. The choice in favor of Liepaja University was based on two things: 1) I did not want to leave my native Liepaja; 2) I wanted to finish my music education in Liepaja Music, Art, and Design Secondary School, where I learned to play piano. After obtaining a bachelor's degree in Liepaja, I continued my studies in the Master's degree program in physics at the University of Latvia, because there was no Master’s degree physics studies in Liepaja University and the opportunities for research work were limited. I was wondering how it was - to work in a physics laboratory and to perform experiments. Initially, the topic of my master's thesis at the University of Latvia was related to a completely different field - astrophysics. I participated in research on interstellar dust, its cooling, possible star formation; however, I felt that the spark was missing for me to continue research in this area. Now, astrophysics related reading has remained only for my spare time.  

I am glad that I got to the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia (ISSP UL). During my Master’s studies, my present Doctoral thesis adviser - Dr.habil.phys. Uldis Rogulis – informed his students about a vacant student’s place in one of his projects. I saw it as an opportunity to write my master's thesis on the project’s topic, so I agreed without hesitation. Although my arrival in Spectroscopy laboratory seemed accidental, in fact, I was always interested in light, light waves, and electronic transitions between energy levels. During my physics studies, I was most interested in those phenomena. So, it seemed natural to continue exploring and studying this direction. The job offer came at the right time. I developed my master's thesis on oxyfluoride glasses and glass ceramics - on transparent or semi-transparent materials, which are activated with rare earth ions, therefore they luminescence.  

I have been working at ISSP UL’s Spectroscopy Laboratory for almost 7 years now. My field is the photoluminescence of inorganic solid materials. If we irradiate materials with light - electromagnetic radiation - they can change the energy of the radiation and emit light of different color. From this spectrum of emitted light, we further draw conclusions about the structure of materials, the location of its atoms, and analyze where such materials could be most effectively applied. We are working on the optimization of the desired properties of materials. The possible applications can be different, for example, in temperature detection, if the luminescence properties change with temperature, as well as in white light sources, dosimeters. During the process of research, we often discover something new, effects that we did not expect to observe. One can never predict the results, but that is how the knowledge is gradually accumulated. If everything could be discovered immediately, then what took smartphones and other current devices so long? Why were the telephone exchanges needed and the computers were the size of cabinets? Any research into the properties of materials and their physical effects drives scientific progress and is beneficial to the scientific community and society in general. The very first measurements of newly synthesized samples are always interesting - curiosity takes over - what the results will be, how promising the intended research direction will be. We are glad that our research can be useful for others – currently, within the scope of a project, we are cooperating with a Latvian company that produces optical fibers. It is planned to insert the material created by us with the best properties into the optical fiber and test it for temperature detection. Such collaborative projects provide additional motivation to work.

I would definitely encourage young people, who are interested in the nature of the surrounding world, natural sciences, and technologies, to study physics, because the fields of research and the required skills are varied. Work in science is diverse, and everyone has the opportunity to find their own field of research and form – for someone it will be the luminescence spectra analysis, for someone else - the construction of complex nanostructures, prototyping, or computer code writing… There is a wide range of possibilities. There are also many creative processes in the work of a scientist - reading, thinking, putting forward the ideas, looking for solutions, seeing perspective. Every day brings something new. Personal motivation and passion for the world of science is also the main driving force. 

When my mind and hands are not busy working at the institute, I enjoy travelling around Latvia and visiting some old castle mounds and manors, participating in orienteering competitions in the forest, in summers - working in the garden. I am also interested in history and archeology. This interest is put to work when I study archive materials and supplement my family tree information with the findings. I am also a member of the student corporation "Selga", and in recent years, I have focused on creative writing - maybe in time there will be a touching story or poem about the life of small, heroic electrons in a material full of complex obstacles. 

I come from humanitarian family that enjoyed literature and music. My father was a pastor in Latvia at a time between the wars, and my mother – a teacher. I started to attend school shortly after the war. My first encounter with physics world was when I was at grade 6 and it was very successful because my first physics teacher knew how to show the beauty and attractiveness of the processes and correlations in nature, and it was like a miracle for me. Physics was a true discovery for me! The teacher knew how to show the magic of nature. The mathematics teacher was the second most important person for me in the primary school promoting the development of independent thinking. Further attending Riga 2nd Secondary School strengthened and developed my interests. Thus, a solid foundation was laid for my further life in science, which was intertwined with interest in natural processes and the world around me.  

While being a 2nd year student at the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of the University of Latvia, I came to the Laboratory of Ionic Crystals Research, because it was my dream to be involved in the research. Usually, the lectures were over by 4 o’clock, and then I went to the laboratory, where I stayed until late evening. In the laboratory, I had an opportunity to meet and learn from knowledgeable and interesting people. My educator and teacher was Professor Kurts Švarcs, who now lives in Dortmund. Young postgraduate students Ilmārs Vītols and Ojārs Šmits were there too. The head of the laboratory was a legend of Latvian physics –Professor Ludvigs Jansons and I was lucky to attend also his lectures. He opened each of his lectures with words: “Honorable attendants!” I admire his respectful attitude towards his students and I have tried to observe it in my days to come.  

When I was a last year student, I was offered a job in a prospective laboratory at the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Young physicist Irēna Pļaviņa returned from her doctoral studies in Moscow and founded a new laboratory at the Institute of Physics of the Academy of Sciences for the research of ionic crystals by spectroscopic methods. Irēna Pļaviņa, one of the most outstanding physicists in Latvia, in Moscow defended her dissertation “Kinetics of photoluminescence in some doped alkali  halides” receiving the degree of the candidate of physical and mathematical sciences (1959). In the new laboratory, we studied processes in crystalline materials - alkali halides based on luminescence of these materials - caused by its irradiation with ultraviolet light or radioactive radiation. With the knowledge that Irēna Pļaviņa had acquired in Moscow, a new method was introduced in the research of these crystals, based on measuring of the luminescence decay times, which provided rich information about the processes taking place in a material. It was an exciting time because I was present just as this research area was developed. The members of the new laboratory formed a united and friendly team, the soul of which was Irēna Pļaviņa. We all worked enthusiastically. In the beginning, the location of the laboratory was often changed. Before we got a permanent place in Salaspils, the laboratory was located not only in the multistory building of Academy of Sciences in Riga, but also in one of the beautiful Pārdaugava mansions close to the Māra pond. I remember how sometimes we went to the pond to skate in the winter and it was a beautiful time.  

The laboratory developed successfully and we could obtain necessary equipment and materials. Despite some limitations during the Soviet era, such as communication with scientists from other countries of the world, we were excited to study and do research, and had good contacts and collaborations with other physicists in the Soviet Union. Irēna Pļaviņa has always been the most important person in my professional development. In the beginning of the Latvian awakening, Dr. Pļaviņa retired and I became the head of the laboratory. It was then that our laboratory joined the Institute of Solid State Physics at University of Latvia (ISSP UL). It was a natural because our research directions coincided. The beginning was so wonderful and we felt ourselves welcome in this Institute.  

Now I have worked at ISSP UL for almost 30 years. About 3 years ago our “Wide-band gap materials” laboratory teamed up with the Spectroscopy Laboratory headed by the young and promising Dr.phys Anatolijs Šarakovskis. We are a friendly team and I am pleased with what we have achieved over the years. It is a pleasure to have a strong generation of young scientists, in which I can invest my knowledge and experience. I am fortunate to work with distinguished and passionate young specialists such as both Gunas (Krieķe and Doķe), Andris Antuzevičs, etc., as well as with the student Rihards Ruska, and I hope they all will have remarkable success in physics in future. I am glad that they accept me in their team and trust my knowledge. I am also grateful to my long-term confrere in the research and a close friend – Laima Trinklere. Today, thanks to the participation of the Institute in international projects, it is possible to work with state-of-the-art equipment, which opens a wide range of opportunities for scientific work. Now we have excellent facilities, great opportunities to work on various Latvian and international projects.  

In science, the ability to find relation between different phenomena and to understand their processes is important, in a sense it is like a detective work. Why things that we register are happening? What does it say about the processes in the matter? If one is interested in such a cognitive process, it is a lifelong passion. It is both a job and a hobby. It drags you in! I know how it is. I often continue thinking about the actual research problems relevant to me and try to find their solutions even when I am out of the Institute. For me stimulating are the walks by the sea or in the woods, but especially exciting is listening to the classical music concerts and opera. I find music, especially classical music, stimulating to the thinking process. I am a vivid example of how strongly classical music, both symphonic and opera, influences. I particularly love Tchaikovsky's 6th Symphony – light and painful at the same time. I also often listen to Beethoven's music. My great love is Verdi's operas. Classical music has been present in my life since childhood, because my father loved it, and we went to concerts together. Classical music has also become a tradition in my own family. We have traveled to the Milan Opera House to enjoy the performances. These have been truly unforgettable moments! 

Research work requires dedication and perseverance. By the way, piano playing trains perseverance. It is a duty that must be done. In my childhood, I learned to play piano, but I had to stop when I was in the second course of my studies because, unfortunately, I simply had no time for it. I had an excellent teacher – Latvian pianist Lauma Reinholde. While at school, I did not play much, but as I grew up, thanks to my teacher, I became more and more interested. The teacher became a good friend, so I played piano with pleasure. She told many interesting stories about her life and the competitions she had participated. She was truly a great person who revealed the magic of music to me. When I gave lectures at Riga Technical University, I tried to apply such an approach with my students. I tried to raise their interest in the surrounding world and its origins by showing what we have come to, how we think now bearing in mind that further development could bring adjustments in our thinking and perceptions. Seeing young people showing interest in the world processes brings satisfaction to me. Painting also plays a significant role in my life. When I am in another country, I always try to visit art museums. In particular, I love Rembrandt and Monet. To see impressionist paintings with my own eyes is such a pleasure! World of science has many similarities with the world of art. Both art and science are people’s attempt to comprehend and explain the world. They can encourage us to look at the processes from other point of view and in another light. More importantly, not to be afraid to change the existing fundamental truths. One of the stars of physics world I admire is the father of nanoscience American physicist Richard Feynman for his ability to tell complex things in an uncomplicated way.  

Family support and understanding is invaluable to be able to commit oneself to research enthusiastically. I am incredibly lucky as I have "pulled the lucky draw" in my life. At first, I received this support from parents, then – from my husband Jānis, who was also a physicist. Now my adult children – Dace, Jānis, and Ieva with their families and my grandchildren Gatis and Adele take care of me and make me happy. 

Our scientists are working with great fervor. Moreover, the whole of the Institute is truly focused. It is constantly evolving, and that is where the passion shows itself. In research it cannot be otherwise because we love what we do.  

I became interested in science when I was still in kindergarten. It was thanks to my grandfather, who was an engineer. I really enjoyed watching him while he did technical drawings. He told me how objects and processes work. It ignited curiosity and desire to understand things and look for answers to what is happening in nature. I could describe myself as a process person because I am interested in how and why processes occur. It is my driving force making me to move forward and continue research.

During school, I was more interested in science subjects, especially biology, and had decided to become a doctor. Up until grade 12, that was what I planned to do, but after finishing school, I enrolled at the Faculty of Chemistry, University of Latvia. At that point, I became interested in nanoscience. This interest occurred during last years of secondary school when I realized the role of nanoscience in the future. In the third year of my bachelor studies, I had a course “Nanochemistry” taught by Dr. Chem. Donāts Erts. In this course, he introduced the students with the nanoworld – nanomaterials, how they are obtained, their applicability, research methods. We had an opportunity to do some practical things, for example, synthesize and examine the obtained samples using the scanning electron microscope at the Institute of Chemical Physics (ICP), University of Latvia. At the ICP, I studied the fabrication of resistance and tranzistor sensors for gas analyse applications, and developed my Bachelor’s thesis on this topic. 

During my Master’s studies, I had an opportunity to work at the Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology, where I analyzed and studied the concentration of heavy metals in fish tissues. As part of this, criteria had to be developed to determine how safe it is to eat fish from the Baltic Sea. One of the most interesting stages of this work was the research performed on board of a ship in the Baltic Sea, when we collected water and fish samples. Such practical experience is very valuable as it expands knowledge and understanding of processes in nature.

Science is a matter of attitude. Achievements depend on how much you are willing to devote yourself. I believe that science is not a job, but rather a way of life, because it involves continuous learning and development. In a way, it’s like a mission, which, of course, requires a lot of patience because not everything works out as intended. With time, you learn to accept it as a part of the process. Research can go on for 10-20 years and you have to reckon with it. To see and get to know the nanoworld, of course, is fascinating, regardless of the duration of the research. Both logical thinking and creativity are important in the work of a scientist in order to “think out of the box” and understand the interconnection. When working in science, there are those special moments when you come close to comprehending the mysteries of nature. Nanoscience is related to mimicking the nature so, in our research we try to learn from self-organizing processes that occur in nature, such as, cell formation. By researching different methods of chemical and physical synthesis, we aim at improving the synthesis of materials, so that they are as environmentally friendly, energy efficient as possible, with lower total chemical consumption and improved morphological and physical properties. Work on such studies is particularly rewarding.

I am in favor of an active dialogue with the society concerning respectful attitude towards nature. Yes, we are one of the greenest countries in the world, but in order to keep it that way, each of us has to contribute and think how to address environmental issues in the future. We have to establish dialogue with the young generation and highlight the role of science in meeting future challenges.

My family was quite surprised by my choice to study at the Faculty of Physics, Mathematics and Optometry, as my both parents are artists, and I attended a humanitarian class at a humanitarian school. We only had physics for one year in the secondary school. I made a choice in favor of physics because of the people - I started singing in the faculty’s choir "Aura", where I realized that the mindset of the participants is what I agree with very well - and my thoughts have not changed so far.

My studies at the Faculty of Physics, Mathematics and Optometry of the University of Latvia were full of different experiences. First, I really enjoyed the studies - there were few physicists, so I had a personal attitude, I also liked the study environment. The biggest "thank you!" I have to say to Professor Ojārs Judrups, who taught mathematics in the first year. Although I had significantly lower knowledge compared to my fellow students when I started my studies, he encouraged me not to give up! It really inspired me to continue. I first came to ISSP UL encouraged by my physics teacher, when at school I wanted to develop a scientific research work. Since then, I have stayed here and I am incredibly happy about my choice.

In his or her work, scientist needs creativity to be able to figure out what problems to solve and in what way. Creativity must be complemented by the pleasure and desire to read many scientific articles and to describe the research in detail. It is not seldom that people lack these traits, which makes it difficult in science, so one must find a perfect balance.

I am especially pleased with my postdoctoral project, where the emphasis was on creating transparent, glow-in-the-dark ceramics. It's so exciting - during the day, the sun shines on a surface, light shines through. However, at night the same surface continues to shine without adding extra energy! In our laboratory, we are engaged in the research of mechananoluminescence - materials that emit light resulting from any mechanical action, so they can be used as crack sensors in various constructions. These studies are exciting!

I think that, in general, we need to think more about telling the public what scientists do. We should look for understandable and accessible ways to tell people about the work of scientists. A good example is the program “Zināmais Nezināmajā” (“The Known in the Unknown” – a radio program broadcasted on the National Radio Channel 1), which interactively and excitingly tells people about science. It promotes a deeper public understanding of what we do and what it means. I have been the head of the School for Young Physicists (SYP) at the University of Latvia. It was and is an ideal way to stimulate young people's interest in natural sciences. Every month, SYP physics enthusiasts volunteer to tell all those who are interested about a physics topic in an exciting and understandable way, also inviting various specialists in the field. An example of the success of this work is Agnese Spustaka, a physics’ bachelor student, who was a diligent participant of SYP, and currently works at the ISSP UL’s Laboratory of Optical Materials. Another great method of attracting young people to STEM are the school students' scientific research works, which are also being developed at ISSP UL. I also first came to the ISSP UL when I developed my student scientific research work.

In my spare time, I enjoy orienteering, play football, and sing in the choir "Aura". I am also interested in and look into the connection between medicine and physics, because it seems that it could open extremely wide field of research.

When I was at school, I was equally good at almost all the subjects, including mathematics and physics, so I was uncertain about what to study – everything seemed interesting. I decided that I needed a clear objective, that is why I decided to acquire a profession and started studying in the optometry program. During the second year of studies, I started to look for an opportunity of working. Unfortunately, work at the optics salon could not be combined with my studies and dancing in a folk dance group. Looking for job led me to ISSP UL, where I was very welcome. In the institute, I discovered a whole new world of physics, from a completely different point of view. So, a year later I changed my field of studies from optometry to physics. The work at the laboratory with Kārlis Kundziņš was a great benefit for me as the working hours were flexible and I could combine it with the studies and dance rehearsals. Especially during the exam sessions, everybody was very understanding. I don’t know any other employer so supportive of the students. It encouraged me to go on with the physics studies.

When I started working at ISSP UL, I polished materials. The polishing is necessary to be able to investigate the materials with the scanning electron microscope. This is a specific 5 – 40 step sequence to make materials perfectly smooth. During the polishing process, diamond discs, sandpaper, diamond suspension or pastes are used until the perfect smoothness is achieved. Preparation of the material makes 90% of a good measurement.

I work at the Laboratory of Materials Morphology and Structure Investigation which was founded in the beginning of 2021. We are two doctoral students in the laboratory currently working on the development of the dissertation theme. We often receive samples from colleagues and other laboratories. Every laboratory has its own field, so we have an opportunity to see the full range of ISSP UL’s activities.

The experimenters should be creative because once the usual approach doesn’t work, different approach needs to be found. This happens all the time as the variety of samples is considerable. Sometimes to reach the intended result, new constructions and configurations need to be created. Daily work involves planning and figuring out how to prepare different samples, in what sequence take the measurements, how to combine the results of all the measurements and create a common picture so that it is understandable to everyone – not only to those who encounter such measurements every day. This is where the creativity steps in. Working in science also requires such qualities as patience and perseverance because it often takes many attempts to get the results. Patience needs to be nurtured not only because sometimes the sample can only be prepared after 20 attempts, patience is also needed when working with equipment.

My passion outside the work in science is dancing in a folk dance group. My parents danced for many years and their hobby has become mine. I have been dancing since I was 3 years old. I have participated in Song and Dance festivals, performances, and heartfelt concerts. 3 years ago, I started dancing in a dance ensemble “Daiļrade”, where twice a week I can free my mind from work and devote myself to art consisting of music, choreography, acting and of course costumes.

I would like to encourage young people to study science, because it is a broad concept, and in science everyone can find what appeals to them. For someone it could be taking images of nanometer-sized terraces on grain, for other - sitting in the dark and irradiating substances with a high-power laser or mixing hundreds of combinations until perfectly shaped nanowires are acquired, or someone else - modelling real and almost unreal situations or going to scientific conferences. It's all here!

I am inspired by Newton’s third law: „Action is equal to counter action”. It has been written on the top frame of my monitor for several years, maintaining my passion, motivating, and inspiring to act, strive and not to give up. There is a reason ISSP’s souvenirs have an inscription „Passion drives progress”. The more I burn, the more I act and try, but if nothing happens - failure is like a challenge for me - to do, to try, to achieve and to prove.  

A good friend once said that „A scientist is a diagnosis!”.  He was right – physics is like a black hole that once attracts light, never lets it out. It caught me in an amazing world of breathtaking patterns, yet undiscovered phenomena and processes. After my study years, I look at everything from the point of view of the laws and phenomena of physics. I try to substantiate and explain everything with the help of those laws and I am good at it! Whether it takes longer, happens faster or it is still in the process - I find a connection and an explanation. For example, looking at a rainbow, I see and think about how white light splits into the glorious spectrum of the rainbow, breaking several times in every drop of rain. When I hear a car approaching with the siren on, the Doppler Effect comes to mind - the wave overlap, from which I judge whether the car is approaching or driving away. I do it unconsciously, it is like a background process - I think, analyze, try to explain, and substantiate everything all the time - and I like it!  

As a child, I wanted to become everything from a ghost hunter and astronaut to a nuclear physicist and a surgeon. I have had the desire to know and experiment since childhood. I once had a nice, old man in my yard who had a natural talent for telling about history, exotic countries, chemistry, medicine, and physics. Many thanks to him for sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm for learning with us. I became a physicist to understand and fell in love with the tempting and interesting world of physics phenomena and their laws. I am fascinated by everything interesting, new, active, and creative, everything that makes you get out of the comfort zone and express yourself. I like it that life, work, and others give me challenges - I accept them with pleasure and enthusiasm. Of course, I like everything related to physics. 

Working in science requires passion, a desire to do, improvise, try and not to give up, saying goodbye to what has been started. One must be ready to grow and become better all the time, to read, to study, to analyze, to look for regularities and to listen to those who have achieved something, as well as to be able to perceive and reflect on constructive criticism. One can never stop accepting the achievements as the top of what is possible. It gives me joy, satisfaction, and pride in presenting the results at scientific conferences. Especially abroad, where during informal coffee breaks you can freely approach a researcher with a huge amount of experience or a world-renowned bright mind and talk about science, receive advice and suggestions. 

If you have a dream, ideas, intentions, and goals - come on – do it! Strive for it! No one will do it instead of you – it’s just yours. It is up to you whether you fulfill or neglect your dreams and goals by postponing them to tomorrow, which will never come, because there will be a new day every day. Moreover, don't listen if others say you won't achieve anything or it's impossible. It's just their opinion based on their life experiences, mistakes, or failures - try! - burn! Under no circumstances do you lower your hands or give up! Living with a dream is much nicer than without it.