Last 4 April, Shapla Bhattacharya, a PhD student working in the laboratory of Dr. Rossella Castagna at the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS) was “shadowed” by a student in the frame of the Shadow Day.
“Shadow Day” is an established career education initiative in Latvia, developed under the Junior Achievement programme, designed to introduce students to a wide range of professions and sectors throughout the country. Its main goal is to challenge preconceived notions about certain careers and offer meaningful vocational guidance by creating a direct link between students and the realities of working life. By doing so, it supports young people in making informed decisions about their future professions and prepares them for entry into the job market.
At the same time, the initiative offers companies and employers a valuable platform to showcase their work environments and engage with potential future employees. During the event, students—referred to as “shadows”—spend between four and six hours accompanying professionals and observing their daily tasks firsthand.
This year, 39 enthusiastic scholars eager to see, explore and learn were received by 39 scientists from LIOS, who invested some of their time to support those young minds and help them choosing their right career path. Among them, Shapla Bhattacharya, a PhD student working in the laboratory of Dr. Rossella Castagna, was “shadowed” by Dmitrijs Punte. This 11th-grade student at Riga 10th Secondary School, actively participated in laboratory research activities with Shapla and the laboratory assistant Daniele Gasparini.
During his time in the laboratory, Dmitrijs observed different laboratory tasks, asked questions, was introduced to fundamental concepts in photophysics and gained hands-on experience using spectrophotometric techniques to analyze the optical properties of molecules.After the experience, participants shared their reflections, wrote reviews, and used the knowledge gained for career planning.
Trought the Shadow Day program, young people gain insight into the job market, including either academia or industry, and the skills needed for different careers. This is a very valuable activity to guide them in choosing the right career path.
