Hi, I'm Kumiko Kihara, a researcher at ELSI. My research field is symbiosis and evolution. I would like to infer the origin of genome from uncultivable microbes that live in the field analogous to putatively primitive environments where the origin of life might have occurred. It will be helpful to identify the potential metabolic systems and pathways that will give us a hint to "the origin of life" question.

But instead of my research, in today's blog, I would like to introduce our special time at ELSI: tea-time!

A few minutes before 3pm, a pleasant bell jingles and echoes in the hallways of every floor of the ELSI building. I have never seen who walks around and tinkles this bell, maybe a cute fairy like Tinkerbell? This light chiming signals the beginning of daily tea-time at ELSI.

I recently joined ELSI and was surprised at first by this 3pm ritual since this was my first experience with such an afternoon break enjoyed by the whole institute. Although there are many laboratories in Japan, maybe not all but certainly the majority of them don't have daily tea-time with its members. Even though ELSI members work in various fields, many people come to tea-time to enjoy each other's company and to exchange casual talks over a cup of coffee or tea and some sweets.

Here are two examples of my positive experience at tea-time.

One day I had attended an ELSI lunch talk. The talk was about the moon, but I could not understand a figure because my research field is biology. During next day's tea-time, I tried to ask the speaker about my basic question, but he was absent. While talking with other people, I could ask the question to another researcher whose research field is planetary exploration and my question was cleared. Luckily, I was able to learn many things from the person I talked to at tea-time. I didn't need to go knock of this person's door, to take his time away from his work. Tea-time made it easy and natural to talk, without any pressure. If it were not for ELSI's tea-time, I may not be able to freely communicate with other members, especially those in different research fields, who are busy on their own research, in their labs or their gathering places. Tea-time makes everyone accessible to each other by gathering them to one place in a relaxed manner.

At another tea-time, I was talking with ELSI's office staff. It was about our health and they told me a practical example of how to effectively strengthen the deep or core muscles in my body by using a "Balance ball", which they used instead of a normal office chair. I had been interested in a "Balance ball" and through discussions at tea-time, I was able to discover that the staff used them. I even got to test and try the different levels of comfort from the different firmness of their ball-chairs. Now I use it for my health and you can easily find these balls in this building.

You may think that I'm telling you only good points for propaganda of ELSI. Therefore, for a balanced view, I also asked ELSI members what they thought about tea-time and I will introduce some of their frank responses here.

First, I asked them about the good points of ELSI tea-time. They responded:

Getting to try sweets/specialties from all over the world of the ELSI members. (Matthieu)
ELSI members have a nice habit of bringing home snack gifts from their travels and sharing them at tea-time.

1) We can interact with many researchers of ELSI and exchange our views.
2) Scientists from different countries visit ELSI. We get to enjoy cultural exchange and fun experiences with different people. (Rajat)
If I have a problem with a program I am writing, tea time gives me a chance to have a break and have conversations with my colleagues. Then, because of this break, I can often solve the problem. (Karen)
Free! We can talk frankly. (Saito)
Free and various drink and snacks available. (Chie)
We can take a break and we can talk to people who are from other research fields.
(Researchers whose backgrounds are different can exchange their ideas with each other casually, and this it will be tighten their link. (Naoko)

Yes. It's not jut me, ELSI members likes their tea-time too. Next I also asked them about the not-so-good points of ELSI's tea-time. They responded:

9 pm is better. (Matthieu)
More people should participate and interact. (Rajat)
Garbage is sometimes left. (Yoshiya)
I prefer soy milk with my coffee... but there isn't that option with the coffee machine. However, conversations with friends are more important than coffee taste, so it isn't a big problem. (Karen)
Same ones talk with same ones every time. (Chie)
I cannot find bad points of this tea-time. (Saito)
It is hard for me to join as I'm a staff member of ELSI and tea-time seems to be for researchers. (Naoko)

I think it will be better if all ELSI members can freely join this tea-time consistently, but it may be difficult especially for the people who do experimental work. Finally, I share with you some more responses:

(1) I have gotten many tips on how to spend weekends here and enjoy staying in Japan.
(2) Learn many new type of Japanese foods served on the table.
(3) Getting information about the planes to visit nearby Tokyo.
(4) Learning gestures of several countries. (Rajat)
I don't have to go to someone's room when I want to talk to him/her. (Chie)
I got to meet and talk to visitors from other groups. As a result I have met many interesting people. (Karen)
It became easy to speak to a person because of tea-time. (Yoshiya)
I'm happy to hear about many researchers' and their work. (Naoko)

ELSI tea-time is only a short break over tea and snacks but it can generate fresh collaborations and innovations to ELSI members.
Listen, I hear the bell calling us for teatime. Maybe today, I will find the mystery Tinkerbell. I hope to see you at teatime at ELSI some day!