hope and reflections
Welcome to 2021. It’s time to look ahead and to indulge in a special kind of reflection.
Last year, amid the coronavirus pandemic, university photographer Veronica Adrover began a personal project. As she snapped portraits for assignments, she asked some subjects if they would pose with and without a mask. She then edited the masked face into the subject’s reflection.
“I’ve always been fascinated by reflections and by shadows – forms of reality that we don’t really notice,” Adrover said. “I wanted to tell a story about what we’re going through. The pandemic is a darker side of our current reality.”
Adrover’s vision is presented here with words from her subjects: expressions of hope as we enter a year that won’t need to work hard to be better than 2020. But why not hope for more?
Project Scientist Mourad Sadqi looks forward to in-person education. Professor Jennifer Manilay hopes we continue to raise voices for social justice. Lead Custodian Albert Ortega Jr. longs for the simple enjoyment of a handshake.
By the way, Adrover purposefully showed the masked faces, rather than the unmasked ones, in reflection. “The unmasked face is the true expression of the person,” she said. “It’s the one that transcends time.”
(Note: All photos of faculty, staff and students were taken before the pandemic or in physically distanced settings.)
What gives me hope in 2021 is the fruition of the resounding support expressed across our nation for composed and steady leadership. Science will again have a voice in our national conversations and take part in the decision-making process as we vaccinate and rebuild our country.
Jose Zamora
Graduate student, Materials and Biomaterials Science and Engineering
What gives me hope for 2021 and beyond is to get back to what we had all taken for granted, like the greeting of a handshake or sharing of a smile without being covered by a mask, or just being able to go straight home from work and giving my kids a big hug without telling them to wait until I change.
Albert Ortega Jr.
Custodial Supervisor Facilities Management
What gives me hope this year is having a sense of gratitude for the health of myself and people I know, grateful that we’ve been able come this far, and being strong enough to cope with what we came through last year. There are so many people who care, not only about themselves but also for other people’s health and life, who care about their community and environment. I’m also hopeful for peace of mind and going back to normal life.
Paniz Rahmani
Ph.D. candidate Chemistry and Biochemistry
As we start a new year, I am hopeful that we are able to leverage the resiliency and creativity that allowed us to persevere through 2020 to keep us moving forward. I hope for social and physical connection with colleagues, friends and loved ones both near and far.
Gerry Elizondo
Chief of Staff Division of Finance and Administration
As I look toward this year, the word that comes to mind is potential: the potential to make new discoveries, to develop new technology, to inspire students and the next generation of scientists. Perhaps more importantly, I am hopeful the ongoing national dialogue on equality will lead to greater diversity in higher ed, STEM and beyond.
Professor Joel Spencer
Bioengineering
I hope we will a have a streamlined COVID-19 vaccine rollout in the coming months. At the end of 2020, the world witnessed the incredible power of scientific research. I hope with these effective vaccines we return to normal day-to-day life and re-initiate in-person education. I hope we can expand research capacity and increase grant funding to carry out exciting science and create tools for the betterment of our community.
Mourad Sadqi
Project Scientist, CCBM NSF-CREST
Mass Spectrometry Facility CCBM Director
I am an immunologist. To me, development of COVID-19 vaccines is a beacon of hope and a powerful testament to scientific research. I am hopeful that work toward social justice will continue and strengthen, to rectify systemic inequities and institutional racism. I am anticipating the leadership of the Biden-Harris administration!
Professor Jennifer Manilay
Quantitative and Systems Biology
