Zoom “Magic” and Proteostasis Vibes

Today I gave an inspirational lecture for first-year students — and while I really love personal contact, this one was moved to Zoom. To my own surprise, I was genuinely excited. I had read about some tricks to make Zoom more engaging, like placing yourself as a small, movable image in front of your slides. It sounded fun and a bit quirky, so I decided to give it a try.

And yes — I became my own laser pointer.
I moved around the screen, pointed at things with my whole self, and had the time of my life. 😄

There’s a snapshot from the moment I successfully imported my presentation as the background. Not everything worked perfectly — some polls didn’t behave, and a few transitions were a bit clunky — but that’s part of the charm. It felt spontaneous and alive.

I know everyone has their own take on Zoom, and I always respect that. I never require students to turn on their cameras. I want them to feel comfortable at home (or wherever they are). I also encourage questions in the chat — not everyone feels confident speaking up in a Zoom room, and that’s totally okay.

What surprised me most was how natural it felt to read comments and respond directly via speaker and video. It reminded me of the vibe in Insta-lives (not that I’ve done one, but I’ve watched a few 😅). Today gave me that same feeling — relaxed, interactive, and full of energy.

And of course, I love talking about our research. About proteostasis, about the questions we ask, and the wild ideas that might just work. Sharing that with students — especially at the beginning of their academic journey — is something I truly enjoy.