Do the Change with Javier Freire

Part 1: Do the Change with Javier Freire

JOANNE TEH: Hi everyone, welcome to Do The Change podcast where we're challenging and reimagining Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences. In this podcast, we focus on upcoming and current leaders in their field and diving into how they got to where they are today and their advice for those interested in the field. My name is Joanne Teh and I'm a current undergraduate here at Berkeley, and our guest for this episode is Javier Freire. So Javier Freire Herrera was born and raised in Concepión, Chile. In 2022 he will begin his PhD in Environmental Health Science at the EHS division of UC Berkeley. His research focuses on ergonomics or human factors and his specific research will delve into the impact of climate change and extreme environments on Wildland firefighters. Javier also currently holds a position as a professor at the Universidad de Concepción. In 2022 he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to pursue his PhD studies in the USA, where he now resides with his wife and three children. So how are you today, Javier?

JAVIER FREIRE: I am really good I am so happy to be here, thank you for the opportunity.

JOANNE TEH: Of course, of course. I'm glad to hear that. So, I guess we can start with my first question which was can you share your personal journey and how you became interested in your field, so like what sparked your passion and motivated you to pursue a career in this area, because working with firefighters is pretty interesting.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah sure, absolutely. Well, when I was a child I had a lot of questions in my mind but in relation with this personal journey about my Academia, my first approach into this work was when I read or search information about the human health. I think was really interesting for me this topic when I was a child and I remember when with my friends and siblings we did a lot of experiments about the different situations, although they sometime fail but all always amaze us and taught us something new. And my more formal interest in ergonomics and human factor arose during my Kinesiology studies at the University of Concepción in 24, I remember. And during this time I delved deeper into the physiology of the human movement and I understood how the physical demand of the work can influence of- our health and performance.

And I was fortunate to have had classes with Dr. Elias Apud, who was a pioneer of discipline, ergonomics area in Chile and Latin America for more than 50 years. Which inspired me even more in this field. Yeah but you're right, absolutely, Wildland fires and Wildland firefighters are a really important topic now, because every year we have more wildfires around the world and until we have a big problem with that situation. Well, my specialization in ergonomic was in 2010 and after my study as a physical therapist and during my master degree I studied, I studied the urban firefighters and I include some assessment such as physical capacity, medical examinations, and body composition. And probably in this opportunity I developed the interest about the wildfires or the fires in general.

Also I have been working as a professor at the University of Concepción for 12 years, or maybe 14 years. And this department had a lot of research about the Forestry and the wildland firefighters, too. Yeah.

JOANNE TEH: What did you, how did you get involved with becoming a professor at the University, what did you teach?

JAVIER FREIRE: Well I have different subjects but at the first, during the first years I just did a lot of applied studies, such as I went to the different companies to research about the working condition of the workers. I remember I went to the north of Chile, I went to the south of Chile, Chile is a long country it's 4,000 kilometers, really long country. And I went to the different places for evaluation of different work in situation in Chile. I got a lot of experience about that it's amazing.

JOANNE TEH: That's really interesting.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah.

JOANNE TEH: So you started off as like a physical therapist you said?

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah. A physical therapist.

JOANNE TEH: Yeah. That's really interesting, so you went from biological sciences into ergonomics and firefighting.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah. Well, actually ergonomics is a mix between different areas, one of them is biological, engineering, psychological, yeah.

JOANNE TEH: Mhm. Can you explain that first? Just for like the layman listening.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah. Because human factor or ergonomics, we try to see the human being as a holistic point of view and and we need to maybe mix different knowledge about the biological, engineering, and psychological aspect. We're trying to understand better what is the worst situation for the human being and we, the last goal is we try to avoid different disease during the work spaces.

JOANNE TEH: Mmm. I see, I see. So that's where the occupational health comes into play. That's really interesting.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yes.

JOANNE TEH: Can you tell us more about like how you got specifically into firefighting, because that's a pretty interesting intersection.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah, one of my studies as a professor in Chile was evaluate the different aerobic condition and body composition, but maybe physical condition in general about the Wildland firefighters and every year we evaluate like a thousand workers each season, because we start the season in between August to September in Chile, for prepare the summer season for the wildfires. And each season we have a lot of workers who try to apply for being wildland firefighters and with different techniques we try to capture what is the aerobic capacity, body composition, and what is the different medical aspect too and psychological aspect. It's like a big team that we evaluate three main aspect, physiological, and medical, and psychological aspect for the workers. Yeah it's really interesting.

JOANNE TEH: So you're trying to like quantize these into like numbers, graphs, is that the goal?

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah, because being a wildland firefighter is a critical work, they work in extreme conditions, environment conditions like high temperature ambient level and they work as a great physically forward and they need to have a specific for example aerobic capacity or different physical conditions.

JOANNE TEH: I see, I see. So this to make sure that they're like fit for the job.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah.

JOANNE TEH: Interesting, interesting, so-

JAVIER FREIRE: And yeah and even we have, I participate in other study about the other workers but I think my interest is in extreme maybe environment conditions.

JOANNE TEH: I see, what made you like decide that, like commit to that as your interest?

JAVIER FREIRE: I am not really sure when I decide this decision but the last, at least the last five years of my professional career I am looking for different extreme condition for workers and we try to improve this kind of working condition.

JOANNE TEH: I see, that's pretty cool.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah.

JOANNE TEH: So you said that you don't, you're not sure if there's any any pivotal like decision making point that made you decide you have- Oh, go ahead.

JAVIER FREIRE: I don't remember any specific point but in my academic and professional career has been marked by crucial moments that have shape who I am today. For example it all began in a public school with limited resources, when I learned from an early age the value of a (FOUR) then I studied at the Salesiano School in Chile, its like a Catholic School in Concepción. And this opportunity not only provide me the quality good education, but also they give me a really good values such as solidarity, teamwork, and maybe commitment with the community. And this value became the foundation of my career and have a guide my action to this day.

After that I study at the University of Concepción and I remember I got a scholarship for study at the University of Concepción because I came from big family. I have four siblings and when I study at the University of Concepción, we have a big issue about the socioeconomical challenges and I got a scholarship for studying my physical therapy career, was amazing. And then I well, I got a job at the same University.

JOANNE TEH: Wow so it sounds like a combination of like fortunate circumstances, good educational environment, all kind of helped you to get to where you are now.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah, sure, absolutely.

JOANNE TEH: That's awesome. That's so cool giving you a scholarship, that's awesome. So are there any achievements that you have gotten along your path, along your career path until now that you think really helped point you into the direction that you're going today?

JAVIER FREIRE: Sure. During the 2020 I got this scholarship for study my PhD in USA. This was a really great moment too, but this scholarship was a special grant for people who don't speak English.

JOANNE TEH: Oh.

JAVIER FREIRE: And they have special classes for learn English and then maybe practice and prepare for apply to the different universities in USA. I think was a great scholarship for special people who don't have a background in English.

JOANNE TEH: Awesome so what- yeah, sorry.

JAVIER FREIRE: I remember when I studied for example, my school I don't have a lot of English classes, maybe one hour per week. But finally with this scholarship I can learn the base of English. But when we arrive to USA I felt a little uncomfortable with the language still because the people speak so fast and use a lot of slang. Probably the same feeling when the other people visit Chile because we speak a little fast Spanish too.

JOANNE TEH: Yeah that's definitely how I felt when I visited Colombia.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah, probably.

JOANNE TEH: Definitely speaking fast.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah.

JOANNE TEH: When you came to America did you, were you the one who decided you want to come to California?

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah, well I when I applied to the different PhD programs in USA, I applied maybe six or seven program in USA because the scholarship require apply for several University. I got an acceptance letter in Virginia Tech University and in UC Berkeley too. But I met my academic advisor Dr. Eva Harris in 2018 in Florence, in Italy. This was a really great moment too, because in this International meeting I can met my actual, my current, sorry my current academic advisor Dr. Harris. And was amazing opportunity to talk with Dr. Harris about ergonomics and I remember I heard her presentation about the economics, it was great moment too.

JOANNE TEH: Wow, awesome. Is your academic advisor linked to Fulbright, or is it just like here at Berkeley?

JAVIER FREIRE: No, but she explained me what is the main activities in the ergonomics lab at UC Berkeley and she gave me courage to pursue my goals. And but I remember in this opportunity I didn't speak, maybe nothing in English I tried to mix between Spanish and English, and she speak Spanish very well too.

JOANNE TEH: That's perfect then, wow. That's an amazing person to have helped you.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah.

JOANNE TEH: So, now that we've gotten to Berkeley, how did you get involved in you said the UC Berkeley ergonomics lab, and now you're going to start your PhD soon- oh wait in 2022 you started your PhD, right?

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah I start my PhD in August 2022, but uh before that I had different meeting with Dr. Harris and she invite me to participate in an online program and even I participate in a presential workshop during the summer in 2019. This was my first approach in presential classes at UC Ergo lab, and I met the other professor at the UC Ergo lab. Was amazing opportunity to, for visit California for my first time too.

JOANNE TEH: Can you tell us more about the UC Ergo lab because like me, at my job I'm often hearing about the UC Ergo lab, I don't really know what it quite is?

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah, UC Ergo Lab is an amazing team that have people from different backgrounds and even they have different projects and they develop a specific activity, has Academia, research, they have a great equipments too, and and they are located in Richmond Field station and they have amazing equipment for research about the ergonomics situation, yeah. I when, I remember when I visit for the first time I was impressed about the all kind of equipment and capacity for research they have.

JOANNE TEH: Yeah. I've never personally been to the Richmond Field Station but I remember once, a few months ago there was like a Berkeley WarnMe about sapphires or like precious gems being stolen from the Richmond Field Station that were being used for experimentation.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah it's not really far but I love the Richmond Field station because currently I'm living in Albany, it's close to the ocean.

JOANNE TEH: Oh, yes.

JAVIER FREIRE: I, when I visit Richmond Field station I use the Bay Trail and I ride my bike to commuting. I think it's 25 minutes just for relax and enjoy the coast.

JOANNE TEH: Wow, that's nice.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah.

JOANNE TEH: I think you're stronger than me though. I don't think I'd be able to bike for 25 minutes every day.

JAVIER FREIRE: It's really great. Even I try to run maybe every week around this area because it's, it's amazing area for practice sport or yes walk when you have a lot of things in your mind I think it's a really good place for just relax.

JOANNE TEH: Well, okay. Note to self, go visit Albany more.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah.

JOANNE TEH: Okay, while you take a sip of water, let's talk about, so I found you via the COEH trainee list.

JAVIER FREIRE: Okay, right.

JOANNE TEH: Can- yeah. Could you tell us more about the, like how you got involved with the COEH trainees, like how does that work, what is that program?

JAVIER FREIRE: Okay, yeah. It's, I consider it's a really great program, have, for example I am research about the Wildland firefighters or the impact of the climate change, but other classmates research about the other fields and we can share different knowledge about the different areas. That is really great because I had other advice made for maybe toxicology point of view or areas or other kind of areas and I think it's really great for have a great conversation about the environmental health science. I think this program have different activities during the year, even we have field trips different companies, I remember a couple of companies that we had, a really great experience and because I never visited any other companies in USA. But with this this program I visit a lot of places and I learned a lot about the different organization, different ergonomics situation in different companies.

JOANNE TEH: Awesome. Shout out COEH.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah it's really great.

JOANNE TEH: Okay, in that case can I ask you about any specific challenges or obstacles you faced along your way along your journey. Like how were you able to overcome them?

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah I think I face a lot of challenges maybe in academic and personal areas because I stay here with my wife, my three kids and it's not really easy to decide move your own country and maybe say goodbye to your relatives, your friends, your life, your culture, your job, and but was a really great I think this was the most significant challenge has been did and, but yeah, for sure the decision to move to California. I think has been really great because my kids when we arrived here two years ago they did not speak nothing in English. Currently they speak really well.

JOANNE TEH: Wow.

JAVIER FREIRE: Better, better than me. I- they have a really good pronunciation, yeah and this is the other big challenge, the language. Because when you move to another country you need to obviously learn another language and but, yeah with the time or immersion, I think is possible to improve maybe the listening and speaking.

JOANNE TEH: Yeah, wow. That's awesome. Your kids are very smart.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah.

JOANNE TEH: Pretty jealous of kids' ability to pickup language fast.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah. Currently they are in elementary school, next year they move to Middle School.

JOANNE TEH: Oh wow, so they're quite- they're so that means they must be about 12, 13?

JAVIER FREIRE: I have three kids, I have a twins.

JOANNE TEH: Ohhh.

JAVIER FREIRE: They are 10 years old now, and a boy, he's eight years old, yeah.

JOANNE TEH: Nice.

JAVIER FREIRE: But my twins turn around the middle school I think it's great for us.

JOANNE TEH: Yeah, sounds like-

JAVIER FREIRE: They are really excited.

JOANNE TEH: Yeah?

JAVIER FREIRE: They're really excited to [Unitelligible]

JOANNE TEH: I remember entering Middle School I was really excited for my first time having different periods and different classes to go to in the day instead of just having one teacher the whole day.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah, it's funny because in the elementary school they are in Ocean View school they are otters, but the next year in middle school I think is a cobra, so there kind of animals. Cobras, animal and they feel excited with to be Cobras now.

JOANNE TEH: They have so much school spirit already.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah. And they love the sport and they have a lot of opportunities for practice sport too.

JOANNE TEH: That's nice.

JAVIER FREIRE: Such as volleyball or basketball.

JOANNE TEH: Mhm. Awesome, wow that's a even tougher decision for your kids to be like quite grown.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah.

JOANNE TEH: And already established in Chile and then having to move everyone and go to California.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah, and other cool things is the opportunity to meet classmate from different countries. Currently we are living in UC Village, it's a specific Village for people who study the undergrad or graduate studies.

JOANNE TEH: I see.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah and they have maybe classmate from different countries, maybe five or six other countries, I think it's really great.

JOANNE TEH: Awesome, yeah. So it makes it kind of easier to acclimate since there's many other people who have the similar, have gone through the similar struggles as you of with packing up everything and moving to a different country?

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah, yeah. That's really right because we have a in the UC Village we have special program for people from other, for international people. And we can talk with people from the different latitude.

JOANNE TEH: I see, I see. Sounds awesome. Sounds like you have, you don't regret your decision to come here at all. The Fulbright scholarship really helped you out.

JAVIER FREIRE: I think this was part of the journey and the Fulbright scholarship is not just for academic issues, it's for cultural, it's for developed societies, I think it's a more holistic scholarship that include the, all kind of areas on the people life, yeah.

JOANNE TEH: That's awesome. So is the end goal to like go back to Chile or to like remain here in California?

JAVIER FREIRE: Yes, when I finish my PhD maybe in 2027 I hope we can return to my country because one requirement of this scholarship is return to the country, the original country.

JOANNE TEH: Oh, to like return to the country and kind of like add to the science the technology back home?

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah. And this was my special goal because I have to return to my country, and yeah and try to improve the working condition in Chile and Latin America too.

JOANNE TEH: Awesome.

JAVIER FREIRE: We need to improve the working condition in Latin America, we have a really high physical effort in different workplaces, yeah, we need to do more research about the what is the consequence when you have a really high physical effort or you have a really bad working condition you need to improve, we need to improve the working condition.

JOANNE TEH: So that's where you come in, right?

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah.

JOANNE TEH: So like with ergonomics, quantizing like the ergonomics streams and stuff?

JAVIER FREIRE: Sure, that's right.

JOANNE TEH: I see, I see.

JOANNE TEH: Hey guys, this is Joanne Teh, your host for this episode and we have reached the end of part one of this conversation with our wonderful guest. Don't click out yet, because part two of this conversation has already been posted, so check out our page to finish the conversation. Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Spotify and Instagram @dothechangepodcast.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------End of Part 1—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Part 2: Do the Change with Javier Freire

JOANNE TEH: Hi everyone, welcome back to part two of our conversation with our amazing speaker on the Do the Change podcast. We're going to jump right back into the conversation. Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube and follow us on Spotify and Instagram @dothechangepodcast.

JOANNE TEH: Do you have any, okay in that case, do you have any goals when it comes to like what you'd like to accomplish here before you go back to Chile?

JAVIER FREIRE: Well, the main goal is try to learn as much possible. I have a wonderful academic advisor and she has a lot of experience about their research. She's a really good professor too. And I want to learn about the Environmental Health Science in general, I discover new areas for me, for example toxicology or that risk assessment is a really new topic for me. Even some statistical classes and epidemology classes is really great to learn about this process, the whole process. And then we, maybe we can develop some research with the whole process in Chile or Latin America.

JOANNE TEH: Mmm, so you're-

JAVIER FREIRE: But-

JOANNE TEH: Oh, sorry.

JAVIER FREIRE: So yeah, I spent a lot of time, this- the last few years in different subjects.

JOANNE TEH: I see, so you're here trying to learn like about as much about Environmental Health Occupational Health as possible in every field.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah and I start with basic, like epidemiology, statistic on this kind of subject but it's really great.

JOANNE TEH: Interesting, interesting. So in that case since you're pretty well versed in like the different things that EHS has to offer do you have any like advice for those who are interested in the field and like just barely getting to know it?

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah I think well, maybe the main advice is try to maybe consider research or probably maybe you need to define what is your area or what kind of area you can, you want to research. Maybe this kind of activities or talk with other professionals or participate in different conquest, could be great activities for improve your networking and for example in my case, I met my academic advisor in Florence in 2018 and in international Congress. But currently probably using the online platforms is other good thing that people who want to research in this area can consider too, because there are a lot of professional that use this kind of social medias like Twitter LinkedIn or this kind of platforms I think it's important to use.

JOANNE TEH: I see, I think for those who are, for those who are new to the career or to like their professional lives- I- sorry.

JAVIER FREIRE: No worries.

JOANNE TEH: I find that myself and a lot of my peers, the thing that we struggle the most with is like narrowing down what exactly you want to do, right? Because there's so many things to do out there in the world like even when you're just talking about the environmental health topics, there's so many from toxicology to epidemiology to ergonomics etc, etc. Like I find that's the hardest thing. Is there any insights from your own journey? Besides the things that you've just told us of course.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah, yeah, also, sorry. I forget to mention is necessary maybe relate your life experience with your academic goals too, because when you have this relationship you can maybe enjoy the process or because you want to resolve a specific problem that you have in your life and you can maybe put more energy or I don't know. But it's really good when you include your own experience and what is the next step that you want to improve these kind of problems.

JOANNE TEH: Was being a physiological trainer also related to that? Was that something that you were passionate about in your life, when you were younger?

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah, sure. For example I remember really some bad experience when I was a child in relation with the relatives or other people who suffer a lot of injuries when they work. For instance I remember when I was a child I went to the funeral of more than 30 miners which death about the explosion, by gas explosion. I think was a really bad experience about the insecurity of workplace and probably this kind of experience life experience beside what you probably, you can resolve in the future.

JOANNE TEH: Yeah, that's good insight. That's really sad.

JAVIER FREIRE: It's sad, but the life I think have sad moments but we need to try to keep this moment for improve the future.

JOANNE TEH: Yeah, exactly. What did I ask you just now about your advice for narrowing down the the field that you would like to do as a new professional?

JAVIER FREIRE: Sorry, I can't hear you, sorry.

JOANNE TEH: Oh, sorry about that. So earlier the question I asked you was what is your advice for narrowing down the options of like what a new professional should focus on in their career?

JAVIER FREIRE: Probably there are lot of alternatives, but I think for example if you want to develop the different skill probably you can find some mentoring and guidance. For instance I have a lot of opportunities here in UC Berkeley for people who help me about the well, language, statistical, or different subject for different gaps of knowledge and I think when you be honest about your weakness and you talk with your maybe academic advisor or different Professor, probably they can guide how you can resolve this situation.

JOANNE TEH: How did you find all your mentors here at Berkeley because it sounds like they played a very integral part to your Journey?

JAVIER FREIRE: Well, UC Berkeley have a lot of resources about that and probably you can talk with other classmate and Professor for discover what is the best tool that you need or help, you know.

JOANNE TEH: Mhm, okay. Is there any advice that you wish like you could have told yourself at the start of your journey?

JAVIER FREIRE: Maybe be more confident. Yeah. Because sometimes I felt a little upset about the different situation. I remember when I arrived here I heard the impostor syndrome, And probably I suffer a little bit this kind of syndrome because UC Berkeley have a lot of amazing Professors, amazing students and I was not sure, okay why I stay here why I'm studying here if I consider myself as a person don't have a lot of maybe resources. First language is different, and it's a big issue to try to explain my ideas and sometime I felt frustrated about that. But at the end of day you say okay I'm stay here for this goal and I think we- I have a great family that encouraged me to resolve or think about this problem and I have a really great classmate too. My academic advisor is really great too and I think for, with this kind of help you can resolve this problem.

JOANNE TEH: Yeah, yeah. Imposter syndrome is a really key topic here at Berkeley.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah.

JOANNE TEH: Ever since like I personally came here for like my undergrad it's just like every, every year, every seminar people are always talking about imposters syndrome, because it's true, it's really, it's really impactful when you're like when you're part of the society here at Berkeley.

JAVIER FREIRE: Sure, absolutely. Yeah but it's real, it happens.

JOANNE TEH: Yeah. It really happens.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah.

JOANNE TEH: But what you said is true like I totally agree, like working through it with people around you and like keeping in mind your own goals.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah, by the way the UC Berkeley have a really great professional for that. They have a special unit for mental health and they can help with these kind of issues. I encourage to people who suffer this kind of problems maybe just ask for help.

JOANNE TEH: Yeah, yeah, definitely. UC Berkeley does have a lot of resources for this, it's time to- we should encourage the people to take advantage of it more. I definitely don't take advantage of them as much as I should.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah, absolutely. I completely agree.

JOANNE TEH: Okay, and then I have another question for you and that is: in your opinion what are some of the key challenges or opportunities that young professionals may encounter in your field today and like how can they navigate those challenges and seize the opportunities?

JAVIER FREIRE: Well, let me think about that. Maybe young professionals have, yeah, several challenges or opportunity today probably. One of the most prominent challenges I think is finding innovate or yeah I think innovation solution for to address Global Environmental issues such as climate change or air pollution for example is a where our really big issues. For example the impact of the workload due the frequency and severity of the Wildfire by the climate change represent significant challenges in my research area. But I think the young professionals face personal challenges too, for example internal pressure or external pressure too or the lack of self confidence too. Yeah, but the most important I think is try to recognize what is your weakness and ask for maybe help, yeah.

JOANNE TEH: Mhm. So like the main challenges would be like your own personal like mental struggles going through this process?

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah that is right.

JOANNE TEH: I see.

JAVIER FREIRE: I think this the best way to solution.

JOANNE TEH: So the key word here is like introspection and asking for help?

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah.

JOANNE TEH: I see, I see. Then how about opportunities? Are there any opportunities in your field now like firefighting and like environmental health ergonomics that you think are more relevant now than ever?

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah, the last time, well with the climate change we have more wildfires and probably is the workload of the workers are increased a lot. And sadly we have more frequency its' the long duration about the wildfires, and in this area we have a lot of work that we need to do. Yeah, but I think we need to work as a collaborative team with other university, other organization because it's a big issue. In Chile, in California maybe we have the same environment and in other countries too. I think it's crucial to develop a specific strategy as a human being, not just for Chilean or Americans or for other people, it's just for human being.

JOANNE TEH: Mhm. So yeah, like on one hand there's more fires which is bad, but it also means that this field is more relevant now than ever and we like definitely need new people entering the field?

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah, sure. Every year we have more people who death about this reason. We have people with different illness such as respiratory illness, we have worker with different heat related illness too, and yeah it's this really call to the action now.

JOANNE TEH: Yeah in my time with COEH I've seen that more and more things are now like now permanently like intertwined with climate change now like every field has to do with climate change.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah. The good thing in the public health school, the climate change or this big issue is like a, there are a lot of people who are working in this area with different point of view. I think it's really great because you can talk with different professional that research about the different impact or health impact about the climate change. For example I have a lot of classes with different point of view about the climate change. I think this a really great experience for expand your knowledge about the, what is the health outcomes that the climate change, go effect.

JOANNE TEH: Yeah, and I'm seeing now more and more conferences, more and more like webinars are being held about climate change it's a very hot topic now.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah. It's really hot topic. It's very-

JOANNE TEH: Mhm, okay. I have another question which is so for like, for recent graduates or like seniors in high schools basically people who are just leaving their previous stage of their career or their life and entering their next stage, the job market can be very daunting, so like what are some strategies or tips you could suggest for a young professionals to like stand out and secure opportunities like in the job market or for like research labs?

JAVIER FREIRE: Oh this is a really good question. I think the first thing is try to for example develop different skill and knowledge when they can talk with different Professor during the high school or college or different scenarios and probably if they can have a networking opportunity, or collaboration has a Volunteers in different organization, could be a great for develop different skill, because when they have job opportunities as a volunteer for example they can develop different skills such as Communications or just for develop responsibilities, I think it's really great. But in this area I think maybe participate in different conference, workshop, or just to keep maybe reading papers about the what is the new impact or what is the you know impact about the acute or chronic environmental situation, could be great.

JOANNE TEH: So your advice is kind of just to like expose yourself to the field as much as possible like absorb as much information, I see.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah.

JOANNE TEH: Yeah. You mentioned getting unique skills, so like in your field what does unique skills look like?

JAVIER FREIRE: Probably communication, could be a important communication, language too today. If you speak maybe two or three languages are great advantage. For example there are lot of people who speak Spanish in California and when we have a field work I can talk with a lot of workers in Spanish. I did some survey's in Spanish. I think that it's amazing too, yeah. I think when you can communicate with a lot of people it's really great because you can get what is the point of view of different people.

JOANNE TEH: I see. It's especially pertinent for you because speaking Spanish, you get to like you said you get to communicate with the people who are like on the field.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah, yeah.

JOANNE TEH: The people who are actually working the jobs that you're analyzing, right?

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah I talk with different people who work in agriculture, as a janitor, in poultry, companies, yeah I think it's really great when you can talk with the workers, you know?

JOANNE TEH: Awesome, yeah. Do you think that you usually, do you spend more time like out and about in the field talking to people or do you think you spend more time like behind a computer screen like research?

JAVIER FREIRE: Both. Yeah, because when we have a surveys for example it's a really great opportunity for maybe expand what is your opinion about several topics. I think this is the most important part of the different study, when we can collect what is the impression of thoughts about the job.

JOANNE TEH: I see. What type of surveys do you end up usually doing?

JAVIER FREIRE: For example I did some surveys about the what is the personal opinion about the janitors for example in different venues, such as Airport, shopping mall, or other kind of venues, and in the other companies too but I think it's great way you can receive the personal opinion about the different working situations.

JOANNE TEH: I see. So you're out there interviewing them basically.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah, yeah.

JOANNE TEH: That's interesting. Oh, so that's why you emphasize Communications as a key skill.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yep, sure. Tt's like a survey, but you can expand some topics about more, maybe, yeah.

JOANNE TEH: Interesting. Sorry.

JAVIER FREIRE: No worries.

JOANNE TEH: Okay, maybe one more question. So I guess this goes back to like your journey, your personal journey. Could you talk about like a project or initiative that you've worked on that you're particularly proud of?

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah I think partly outside the Academia I am working in a specific program in Student Parent Food donation program that is really great because in Chile I never see any program something like that I think it's a really amazing program for food rescue and we live in the UC Village and we try to have, improve this program in this community.

JOANNE TEH: Can you repeat the name of the program?

JAVIER FREIRE: Student Parent Food Donation.

JOANNE TEH: I see so like what exactly do you guys do?

JAVIER FREIRE: We have different stores that we collect food every weekend and we distribute this food among the people who live in the UC Village. It's an amazing program because we can improve for example or we try to avoid this foods, maybe could be go to the trash or I don't know-

JOANNE TEH: Mhm, like it's about to expire?

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah, but it's a really great program for families too, because living in California is so expensive, probably the housing, food is expensive, health insurance are expensive too and if you can help with the food area I think it's great.

JOANNE TEH: Yeah, yeah definitely Berkeley's food prices are next level.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah, sure.

JOANNE TEH: I find it awesome that you are able to do that on top of your usual classes, on top of research, on top of having a family.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yep, that's right.

JOANNE TEH: Do you have any like time management tips, like how do you manage all that?

JAVIER FREIRE: No, I don't have any something like that, but I finally I tried to balance my day between my academic goals and my family goals too. It's not really easy I think there are a lot of people in the same situation, but yeah I think it's really great at the end of the day.

JOANNE TEH: Yeah, time management's something I'm working on right now too.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah sometime it's really hard to manage my time.

JOANNE TEH: Okay, in that case I don't know if I have any more questions. Do you have any other last things that you wanted to talk about that you forgot to?

JAVIER FREIRE: Well I am really happy to be here in general. I miss my relatives obviously in Chile, I miss my friends, but I think it's a- stay here in California with my kids and my wife is a really great opportunity for us and I say just thank you for all people who can make this possible. And I am consider myself as a positive person in all my life, I try to be positive in this kind of thinking about my PhD journey.

JOANNE TEH: Yeah. That's a good outlook.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah.

JOANNE TEH: Okay, in that case thank you for joining us today for our episode. It was really great to talk to you.

JAVIER FREIRE: Yeah. Thank you for the opportunity.

JOANNE TEH: Mhm, of course.

JAVIER FREIRE: Was really great. Thank you.

JOANNE TEH: Thank you, Javier. Okay, bye-bye.

JAVIER FREIRE: Bye-bye.