In October-November I had the pleasure of visiting ELSI at an exciting time for the institute: encompassing the move into the renovated offices and the first hosting of a space plasmas workshop. Both of these involved a few 'kampai's!

This was my first visit to Japan since leaving my 3-year post at JAXA/ISAS Sagamihara campus and I welcomed the opportunity to meet new researchers as well as catch up with colleagues on existing collaborations. I also welcomed lots of ramen, sushi, and shabu shabu which I had been missing since moving back to the UK!

I was impressed by the interactive environment at ELSI: from the discussion between scientists with such different backgrounds to the open lunchtime talks and formal seminars, and the communal coffee breaks. Preparing and giving a seminar to such a diverse and accomplished group of scientists was certainly a challenge but the questions asked gave me some enlightening new perspectives on how to develop my research, and what its impact on other research areas could be. To give an taste of the diversity, my seminar on planetary magnetospheres and aurorae was scheduled between one on seismology and one on sub-surface oceans at moons.

Given ELSI's commitment to attracting international researchers, I have already advertised it as an exciting career opportunity to some of my colleagues. I myself hope to be able to visit again in the undoubtably successful future of the institute.

Sara Badman with Mt. Fuji in the background

Sarah Badman
Short term visitor from Lancaster University, UK