Meet the ESRs – Part 11

Tell us a little about yourself?

I am a geologist from Estonia searching for challenges in industry related research. I became interested in rare metals during my Master’s project in which I was studying the magnetic properties of rocks hosting polymetallic mineralisation. Since mineral resources in Europe are getting closer to being exhausted, I thought about joining a group looking for valuable commodities related to waste products.

How is your PhD going? What is your upcoming research about?

I’m presently located in the aluminium plant Aluminium of Greece. With the help of the experienced engineers I’m learning to know the process of alumina production and the chemical analysis related to it. Later in my work I’m going to trace the minor metallic elements entering the process contained in aluminium ore called bauxite and exiting in the composition of the main and waste products. A question is waiting to be answered of how the minor metal elements behave during the high pressure caustic leaching of the bauxite ores.

What or who motivates and inspires you? Any thoughts and life musings you’d like to share with us?

I’m inspired by the scenic landscapes of the area of Gulf of Corinth in Greece. Earlier I thought it’s for elderly couples to come and spend time under the Mediterranean sun, but now I’m really enjoying the time here. A swim in the sea before work boosts up the energy and relaxes in the evening. Weekends are all for discovering the treasures of Hellas. Also, the Mount Parnassos, located close to my place, is said to be home of the Muses who apparently are helping to keep up the joy of working even now in the summer.

If a chicken had lips, could it whistle?

As a geologist I first began to wonder about the evolution of the chicken. Obviously chicken are descendants of dinosaurs. Maybe some of them even had lips, evolution has played many unimaginable tricks. The whistle of a dinosaur could have been a deafening sound. It is assumed however that some dinosaurs made a kind of a horn sound, if organs making those sounds could have been passed to chicken, maybe they could be whistling nowadays.