The Self Behind the Science: Ten Questions with… Mike Fletcher
It’s so easy to get caught up in our own lives, from running experiments to meeting that manuscript deadline, so many of us haphazardly fumble towards that finish line before a new one assuredly pops up again. And in our own busyness, in creating our own stories, we may miss connecting with those with whom we spend half our waking hours. What kind of stories do they have to tell from their fun and fascinating lives? We hope this column will pique your curiosity about your colleagues and encourage you to discover a bit more about them – international and domestic alike!
We play Ten Questions with Mike Fletcher from New Zealand, a Postdoctoral Scientist at the Division of Molecular Genetics.
- Where were you born?
In Hong Kong.
- Where do you live, with whom, and how long have you lived there?
As of right now this second, I live in a tiny flat, which I share with a flatmate who is a law student. I’ve lived there for about a year and a half… yeah, about 18 months.
- Have you had any lost in translation moments since living in Germany?
No. I can’t think of any. The closest I’ve had is I kept buying sardines when I wanted anchovies.
- Which three words would you use to describe living in Heidelberg?
Noisy. Full of terrifying car drivers. Organised and structured (in a very German way).
- Name a book you’ve read that has positively shaped you and why.
Terry Pratchett Discworld books because he combines vicious social satire with comedy [at this point, Mike peers over at my notes and instructs me to underline the word vicious].
- What is your favourite activity outside of work and why?
Playing Ultimate Frisbee. Because being part of a team is fun, and leading and motivating a team is interesting.
- What is your best childhood memory?
Playing in the neighbourhood. Climbing over fences. I lived on quite a steep street, and I’d go down on a small car. Once you started going down this hill, there was no way to stop, and the car was designed for a child about 3 years old, which was half my age because I was around 6 at the time.
- If you could invite anyone to dinner, who would it be?
Angela Merkel so that she can explain all about Germany to me. Let’s just leave it at that.
- What is your favourite thing about Heidelberg or the DKFZ?
My favourite thing about Heidelberg is that it is a sensible sized town if you don’t have to commute anywhere by car.
My favourite thing about the DKFZ is that there are so many groups doing so many different things that you can talk to anyone about anything.
- What is your least favourite thing about Heidelberg or the DKFZ?
My least favourite thing about Heidelberg is that it is impossible to get back here from any airport on a Sunday evening.
My least favourite thing about the DKFZ is that there are so many groups doing so many different things that it is easy to feel like a tiny cog in a ginormous roaring machine.
If you have a question you’d like to ask any of our scientists, leave us a comment below. We’d love to hear from you!
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