The Proposition: ‘Science flourishes in the ritual of a coffee break, but only when the coffee is undisputed.’

Text Ning Fan

PhD candidates explain their most thought-provoking proposition. This time it’s Matthijs Wessels, who received his PhD on 6 March. His research was about irrigated urban agriculture in the city of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

‘I like to drink coffee and I even run a small coffee roastery, sourcing beans from all over the world and roasting them myself. Coffee breaks are therefore valuable to me, and I think science can benefit too from this ritual.

‘Having coffee breaks at work lets you get away from your desk and connect with colleagues in an informal setting. These moments can spark new ideas and collaborations. I am not saying a coffee break always leads to big eureka moments, but even short conversations can sharpen your thinking and give a fresh perspective on your work.

‘However, you only benefit from coffee breaks when they are “undisputed”. If you are overwhelmed with tasks or feel stuck in academic competition, a coffee break can start to feel like a burden. You will end up not taking the time for a shared coffee break, which means you won’t have these nice and inspiring interactions with others.

‘Do I like the coffee on campus? Well, I appreciate the university’s choice to consider sustainability aspects. But as a coffee roaster, I think there is a lot of room for improvement in the flavour. I still drink the campus coffee, but sometimes I bring my own beans to share with colleagues. On those days you see more people joining the coffee break, and I love that!’

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[The Proposition] ‘Climate-smart agriculture as a scientific field is a typical example of neocolonial science’

Column Maurice: Sustainability is easy