Mom: You must be very happy that we will spend Christmas in Estonia this year.
Daphne: I will see my friend, Niovi.
Captain GG: Boring trip. We will go to Gibraltar again and from there turn right towards Sweden, in Northern Europe.
Dad: After Gibraltar, we will pass through Spain, Portugal, Spain again, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark…
Captain GG: After Denmark, next is Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, AND WE’RE THERE.
Mom: Just like we did on our trip to Santa Claus’s village, after Gibraltar, we will pass through Spain and drink Rioja, Portugal and eat fish, France and drink Beaujolais.
Mr. A: Shortly after, Germany will come for beer and Frankfurt sausages.
Little A: Sorry, but when will we eat the red soup?
Daphne: Let’s ask Niovi if they eat beet soup in Estonia.
Mr. A: It’s very cold, and there’s a lot of snow here. Shall we go to Niovi’s office to warm up a bit?
Dad: Is this the observatory in Tartu? It’s very nice with the dome on its rooftop.
Little A: Come on, let’s go because the building’s entrance is interesting too.
Mr. A: I read that the observatory has a 1.5-meter telescope and a 0.6-meter telescope. Where are these telescopes located, actually?
Niovi: A little further from the main building and before the forest, we have a few telescopes. The largest and main research telescope is together with the Stellarium in the astronomical tower, about a ten-minute walk from here, and the others are along the way there. The smaller ones are mainly used for student and school activities.
Daphne: Something like the Skinakas Observatory near Heraklion in Crete.
Mom: I heard that the University of Tartu is organizing a week for women in science.
Niovi: Yes, Tikso, the mascot that recently visited the observatory https://www.instagram.com/p/DCWiS1EuEPC/ started a campaign in various labs to highlight the work of women in research at Tartu!
Little A: And we’re not women, right Niovi?
Daphne: What are you doing for women in science, Niovi?
Niovi: I think the purpose of this week is to highlight equality beyond just two genders—equality in opportunities, emphasizing that having a particular characteristic doesn’t make you superior or inferior, but rather your work and values define you. For example, society should embrace the working hours of mothers who spend 10+ hours in an observatory without judging them for leaving earlier to pick up their children from school. The same should apply to everyone, without discrimination.
With the University of Tartu’s student association, of which I am a representative this academic year, we have carried out various activities promoting equal rights in terms of gender, different disabilities, and mental health.
Mom: I remember, Niovi, that you are doing a PhD in astrophysics. What is your research topic?
Niovi: Right now, I am studying dynamic processes in galaxies, such as dynamical friction and the evolution of galaxies.
Little A: Can we please go to Niovi’s office so we can walk under that round and glowing object above the entrance?
Mom: Niovi, what is that round object? It looks like Earth.
Little A: Do you eat beet soup here?
Niovi: Ummm, I’ve only had it at home. In general, we eat salmon soup with cream—it’s really delicious!
Little A: Do you maybe eat Rudolph, the reindeer with the red nose, at Christmas? I’ll be really sad if you do.
Niovi: No… only one restaurant with medieval dishes serves something like that. And in Finland, they eat it… As for good food here… we have lots of potatoes! And sweets—now in February, we’ll have Vastlapäev, our version of “Tsiknopempti,” which is like a brioche with whipped cream!
Photos are taken by Alexandra Lehtmets and
Veronika Mitrokhina phd students in stellar physics, Aikaterini-Niovi Triantafyllaki, phd student in galaxies, and Karin Pai communication specialist of Tartu Observatory.
Captain GG: Now that we’ve learned so many things, isn’t it time to return to Athens?
Dad: I hope we return by plane.
Daphne: Niovi, will you come to Greece this summer so we can go swimming in Crete?
Mr. A: Will we also visit the Skinakas Observatory?
Niovi: Definitely.
Mom: Niovi, thank you so much. We learned wonderful things.
Little A: We played in the snow, drank hot chocolate, and I’m happy that you don’t eat the reindeer with the red nose.