Sergio Martin debuted this year as Head of Science Operations (Head of DSO), shortly after receiving the “Collaboration” Award from our Core Statements. In his opinion, many at ALMA deserve to receive this award, so coming out as the winner left him perplexed. “Perhaps that’s why I was confused and deeply flattered that someone had taken the time to nominate me for this award,” he says.
He has been with ALMA for almost 10 years, before that, he was a Fellow for four more. His passage through different roles within the observatory makes him appreciate ALMA even more as a project resulting from a collective effort. “It is the result of the efforts of each and every one of us who have the good fortune to work here,” he believes.
“Beyond a few nice words of thanks, for me this idea drives my daily interaction with each and every person at ALMA. I truly believe that when you promote collaboration as a fundamental value, care, respect and excellence come naturally,” Sergio tells us.
Get to know Sergio’s tastes and recommendations:
1. Read: The last book that blew my mind, even though I was never a fan of science fiction, is “The Three-Body Problem” by Cixin Liu.
2. Watch: To name one, “The Arrival”, maybe because I watched it again recently, I think it is really unmissable.
3. Listening: I tirelessly seek to discover new bands and sounds. A friend once called me a “musical atheist” for being able to go from my favorite Black Metal band “Cradle of Filth”, to the unmissable “Loreena McKennitt”.
4. Eating: I have simple tastes and reach ecstasy with a simple lentil stew or some classic fried eggs and potatoes.
5. Drinking: I’m a social drinker, so I value the person on the other side of the glass more than the contents.
6. Follow / admire: None in particular.
7. Think / Believe: I think the big mistake of human beings is to believe that things have or need a meaning.
8. Do / Practice: “Learner of everything, master of nothing” to the point of being unable to identify a particular hobby. This year I managed to renew my diving license after my first attempt more than twenty years ago, in the beautiful and icy waters of the Chilean coast.
9. Dress: T-shirts, no doubt. Anyone who knows me knows that.
10. Travel: I flew to Sri Lanka for the first time in my life when I was 18. That was the beginning of my need to see the world. The two places that most fascinated me were the hanging snowdrift of Queulat in Chile and the bioluminescent lagoon in Puerto Rico.
Sergio, we might be contingent, but you are necessary! (If you know, you know 😉)