DATE Lab Chats: Introducing New Lab Members
This month, we introduce two individuals who are new to the DATE lab and who we are very excited to have on board! We sat down to chat with them and get to know them a bit better with fun questions about their them and their research.
Read their interviews below!
Robin Abendschein
Robin Abendschein is a Master's student from Wuerzburg University in Germany who joined the DATE lab on an 8-week internship. Although he is only joining us for a short time, he has become a special part of our DATE lab community.
What is your role in the lab?
I'm a visiting student conducting research on accessibility of mixed reality technology. My aim is to find out what contributes to a design that is user-friendly for people living with dementia.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I love cooking and baking pastries. When successful in preparing those meals, I also enjoy dining. Speaking of meals, another activity I really like is to grow plants for meal ingredients such as strawberries, vegetables, and herbs on my balcony.
If you could invite any scientist (dead or alive) to dinner,
who would it be?
It may have to do with the restrictions currently in place, but I find
the idea of dining together very, very appealing!
If I had the chance to meet any scientist (dead or alive), I would
like to invite Stephen Hawking. I think I'm not the only one intrigued
by his work in physics and by his presence also in the non-scientific
public.
What is your favourite science ‘fun fact’?
I am generally fascinated by how research can be advanced through
interdisciplinary exchange.
When I think of the interfaces between linguistics and computer
science, or of artificial intelligence based on biological neural
networks, I am motivated to be open to findings outside my own
discipline.
If you could attend a research conference anywhere in the
world, where would it be?
If I had not visited Canada for my placement in the lab, I would
probably name a Canadian city. I have not visited any place in Asia
yet, so why not start with Korea?
What made you interested in dementia research?
I came across this topic for the first time in my private life: I am
very grateful for the time I got to spend with my grandparents. During
this time, I became aware of the challenges associated with aging.
While as a software developer I knew how to support people in their
business tasks with technology, I encountered little technology in my
personal life that was adapted to the needs of elderly people.
My experiences have inspired me to contribute to the development of
technology that accommodates people with special needs, such as people
with dementia, in a way that promotes their independence,
participation, and well-being.
What 3 key search words describe your project?
accessibility, mixed reality, well-being
Alana Bernick
Alana Bernick recently joined us as a project coordinator and will take the lead in some of our important projects. We are very excited to have her on board and welcome her to the DATE Lab community.
What is your role in the lab?
I’m an Occupational Therapist (OT) and I’m very excited to be joining the team as the Project Coordinator/Research Associate where I will be involved with the day-to-day operations of projects conducted within the DATE lab. My current focus is primarily around collaboratively supporting the RESILIEN-T Project: an international project testing a new touchscreen application with partners in Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
When I’m *not in the lab* I really enjoy cooking up new recipes, spending time with family, getting into a great book and walking (while sometimes listening to a favourite podcast!).
If you could invite any scientist (dead or alive) to dinner, who would it be?
This is a hard one … but I will go with Albert Einstein … so many questions to ask!
What is your favourite science ‘fun fact’?
There are so many … but one that is a favourite: ‘there are more stars in the universe than there are grains of sand on earth…’
If you could attend a research conference anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Wow, again this is a tough one! What first comes to mind is Australia … but tied would have to be our RESILIEN-T partners- Switzerland, The Netherlands, or Italy!
What made you interested in dementia research?
Both personal and professional experiences- having a close relationship with grandparents with lived experiences and as an OT having worked with older adults to promote positive aging- have shaped my passionate interest in this area of brain health research.
What 3 key search words describe your project?
Communication-Technology; Self-management; Cognitive Health