MY Camper Andra Orasanu: Science should be a pleasant surprise
18-year-old MY Camper Andra Orasanu is particularly interested in the way natural sciences merge together in understanding climate change, for example.
“If you take them one by one, I am by no means a brilliant mathematician, or biologist, or chemist. I like to keep a broad view on things, and put the little knowledge I have into practical use.”
Andra comes from Romania and is currently studying mathematics and computer programming at the Colegiul Național Costache Negruzzi in Iași. She was looking for information about Finland for IASIMUN (a Model United Nations conference held in Romania) when she found out about the Millennium Youth Camp. The reference to the Millennium Technology Prize, and its emphasis on the quality of human life aroused her interest. That is something Andra wants to emphasise herself as well.
“I remember Kurt Vonnegut saying: ’Scientific truth was going to make us so happy and comfortable. What actually happened was that we dropped scientific truth on Hiroshima.’ Well, I want to see that inverted: science should be a pleasant surprise.”
According to Andra, people often fail to see the social dynamics of science. She sees science as positive and active interaction. That is exactly what she expects to find from the forthcoming MY Camp as well.
Andra is part of the climate change group of the camp. Her project deals with geoengineering as a short-term solution to global warming. She finds it a good halfway house on the road to a global long-term agreement.
“Until formal debates will reach a constructive end, the world should use its scientific resources to fight climate change, and this would materialize in the responsible use of geoengineering.”
Andra’s enthusiasm for science comes from Bertrand Russell`s books, not from the cold hard facts she has to deal with during lessons. Her interest in reading goes beyond science books as well; she also enjoys Russian literature. Andra’s other hobbies include debating, writing, paragliding, playing the piano, and “secretly psychoanalysing people to myself, even if they do not wish to be psychoanalysed”.
As for her plans for the future, Andra is interested in studying in the USA or in the UK, but she wants to keep her course of choice a secret until she has made up her mind for good.
Link: Millennium Youth Camp
Document: Andra´s plan for MY Camp (pdf)
Elisa Lautala works as web editor for University of Helsinki's Faculty of Science. Elisa likes all kinds of cultural events, good books, warm weather, and aqua-jogging.