A PhD Student’s Highlights of the MEDAL Summer School
by Liis Themas
I am a PhD student at the University of Tartu, where I work with my supervisors, Pärtel Lippus, Marika Padrik, and Kairi Kreegipuu, on neurophysiological and behavioral studies related to child language perception and the maturation of auditory perception in both typical and clinical populations. When I first reviewed the program for the summer school, I was thrilled — finally, a focus on studying children!
It may just be my impression, but researching children and clinical child populations seems to be quite a niche field. I often feel that very few people both understand what my research is about, and are also enthusiastic about it. Therefore, I eagerly anticipated traveling to Nijmegen to engage in meaningful discussions with experts in the field. I was not disappointed. It was incredibly gratifying to have my questions answered in detail by high-profile researchers like Cecília Hustá and Hatice Zora.
There was also an opportunity for private consultations, which initially seemed daunting, so I didn’t sign up right away. However, during the summer school, I gathered my courage, registered for the consultations, and hoped that if I asked seemingly silly questions, they would soon be forgotten. The experience proved to be far from intimidating. Even if my questions felt trivial, the mentors did not show any sign of judgment. Instead, they were fully engaged and provided the best assistance that they could. Moreover, I even managed to convince one of the experts that I am not a complete lost cause and that I am open to future discussions. We are now planning to meet and continue our conversation about our research.
Another highlight was meeting the authors of the books and articles I admire. At the summer school, I had the chance to see and hear Peter Hagoort, a prominent figure in the field. His ability to explain complex topics with such clarity was truly admirable. This aspect of communication is a challenge for many researchers. Including myself, because somehow, I also make simple things sound complicated. Fortunately, this is an aspect that can be improved with learning and experience, much like the expertise demonstrated by Peter Hagoort.
I was impressed but also a bit envious of the extensive and rigorous research on child language development conducted at the Max Planck Institute. Their studies involve hundreds of babies and span several years, utilizing various methods such as EEG, MRI, and behavioral tasks. In contrast, our understanding of Estonian language development is still shockingly limited. This, however, can be seen in a positive light – we have very exciting research ahead of us.
While there were a few downsides, they were not related to the summer school itself. Rather, they involved Rammstein and its fans, who occupied all the good accommodations, leaving us with more adventurous lodging options. This included leaky roofs, gaps under doors, a physical fight, a police visit, and a gas stove that was too much to handle for our generation. Nevertheless, these challenges have provided us with amusing stories to use as an icebreaker at future scientific events.
