My German father met my mother in Ireland, swept her off her feet and dropped them both in my birthplace Berlin. Continuously subjected to English lullabies and nighttime stories, I really had no choice but to fall in love with books and language. Once I hit the age of sixteen, I decided my vocabulary needed more street cred and I moved to England. At Bryanston School, the scene was more posh than street, but served it’s purpose. My fascination for life, the ocean and the environment led me to faraway Wales, where I studied Marine Biology at Aberystwyth University.

I loved science, but my creative side was shriveling like an unwatered plant. Combining science with photography, filming and writing seemed a plausible possibility in England, where natural documentaries are prime time material and the focus of watercooler talks.

After a diverse range of work experiences in this field, including the BBC, I decided it was time to replenish my scientific Alter Ego with a Masters in Aquatic Tropical Ecosystems. Again, I was torn. I needed both, science and creative work, to feel complete.

I finished the MSc and landed a job at the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences. Here, I was given the opportunity to take on the responsibilities needed to aid the communication between 1,100 members of staff, half of which were first-rate scientists acting on a global scale. I also wrote and edited the staff magazine, allowing me to be in touch with both science and creativity at the same time.

As ever, my language skills were often sought upon by colleagues and I developed a reputation as a reliable translator and photographer at the GFZ.

The free, hard-hitting and honest search for truth that Vice Magazine perpetuates clearly vibes with my passion for research, communication and creativity.