Both assist in crises

In the course of a fire or a meltdown, every second counts—as does every preparation. Anja Le Maire works for the Jena fire brigade as team leader of the Preventive Hazard Control unit; Julia Asbrand researches the mental health of children and young people. Both think in terms of emergency response and prevention, and both know that the most important help often comes before a crisis strikes. A conversation about calm, responsibility and what holds Jena together as a university city.

How does a day start in which everything goes great?

Anja Le Maire: It starts with good weather, because I usually cycle to work. If the sun’s already shining and I arrive here dry, the day is off to a really good start. Then I have my first coffee and I’m ready to go. That’s when I’m ready for action.

Julia Asbrand: A day when everything goes smoothly doesn’t start with work, but with exercise. After that, a nice shower and then a coffee at work.

Where do your professional worlds overlap?

Anja Le Maire: Firefighters often reach their emotional limits or experience stressful incidents. We get help from psychologists so that our crews can process what they have been through, remain fit for duty, and avoid falling ill.

Julia Asbrand: We conduct research into global crises and mental health, particularly the psychological strain on children and young people. This means we deal with stressful situations  where help is needed—where fires need to be put out. The fire brigade works proactively to prevent fires. That’s exactly what we’re trying to do with our research: to strengthen the mental health of children and young people so no major fires break out in the first place.

When was the last time you felt that the city and the University were working together on something that neither could achieve on its own?

Anja Le Maire: I perhaps wouldn’t put it quite as broadly as »something neither could achieve on their own«. But I do see the two collaborate whenever the University builds new buildings or implements projects involving construction work. That’s when we as the fire brigade provide our input from a fire safety perspective, helping to ensure the buildings are not only good-looking but also fire-safe.

Julia Asbrand: In Jena, above all it is the close connections between the University, industry and the city. It’s the short distances: In no time at all, you get to know lots of people who are pitching in for the same goals. This sense of community is particularly strong in Jena—and that ultimately produces excellence.

How do you keep calm, so that you can act in the crucial moment?

Anja Le Maire: That’s a good question, and one that I can’t answer all that easily. When we face a critical situation, I try to focus entirely on it, and that helps me find the calm I need to figure out a solution. I can’t explain it any other way.

Julia Asbrand: We face crisis situations time and again. Whether in research, when something isn’t working at all, or in therapy sessions, when a child is in the midst of an acute crisis. The most important thing is good training: if you know what to do, you can focus entirely on the person in front of you and make decisions with a clear head. 

If Jena is selected as a University of Excellence—what are your hopes for the shared future of the city and the University?

Anja Le Maire: I hope that Jena continues to grow as a university city and expands its significance within the German higher education landscape. Quite simply because the city thrives on the presence of so many students and the intensive research carried out here. Small businesses are constantly emerging from the University, which strengthens the area economically. So I hope the University continues on its successful path and that we, as a university city, become even more attractive as a result. Or remain so, because we already are. When you experience Jena, you realise that it is quite a young city: thanks to the students, student life, and a palpable open-mindedness. That should remain and continue to grow.

Julia Asbrand: I would like us to involve more than just Jena in our excellent research—the whole of Thuringia, the whole of Germany and the international research community. That means: putting Jena on the international map for excellent research whilst ensuring that people here in the local area know why research in Jena is excellent and how they themselves can get involved.

I am part of the university city of Jena because...

Anja Le Maire: This is where my life is centred. I feel very much at home here; I have a job that fulfils me and a city that I simply like and find a great place to live.

Julia Asbrand: I am part of the university city of Jena because I want to conduct psychological research for families in and around Jena, with the aim of improving the long-term health of children and young people.