In March this year, Dr. Anna Mechler, head of the 'Electrocatalysis' group at MPI CEC (Department <link internal-link internal link in current>'Heterogeneous Reactions' of Prof. Robert Schlögl), was elected speaker of the <link https: www.uni-due.de cenide yournet_en.php external-link-new-window internal link in current>Young Researcher Network (YOURNET). She holds the position together with <link https: www.uni-due.de materials index_eng.shtml external-link-new-window internal link in current>Dr. Miriana Vadalá from the Institute of Materials Science at the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE).

YOURNET was founded in 2010 as a network of young scientists from the nanosciences at the UDE and offers its members the opportunity to discuss research questions, to critically question methodological approaches from other perspectives, to build bridges between the departments and to exchange ideas about possible synergy effects. In addition, the network also organizes workshops that support young scientists in their everyday research work and also provide administrative support.

At present, 25 scientists are active as members of YOURNET, all of whom conduct research in the field of nanosciences at various regional institutes in cooperation with the UDE. "We are happy to welcome new members, whether they are group leaders, junior professors, post docs or scientists with a recent doctorate", says Anna Mechler. Membership in YOURNET is free of charge.

On the occasion of the new function in YOURNET, Dr. Mechler gave an extensive interview in the current newsletter of <link https: www.uni-due.de cenide index_en.php external-link-new-window internal link in current>CENIDE (Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen at the UDE), in which she talks about her research in the field of electrocatalysis, which she particularly enjoys because basic research and application are equally important. Anna Mechler and her team are particularly motivated by the fact that research into the storage possibilities of electrical energy is also a very current and socially relevant topic.
Dr. Mechler also talks about working and researching at a Max Planck Institute, about her experiences abroad as a postdoc, the need for science communication with the public and balancing leisure time outside the laboratory.

The complete interview was published in the CENIDE Newsletter 05/2019.