Miracles Born in Science – The Story of Daniela Godiņa

“Science is not a threat to miracles. Science is a field where miracles happen,” affirms PhD Daniela Godiņa, researcher at the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, in an interview for the programme Monopols, available on Latvian Radio and on the news portal of Latvian Television. Her daily work involves developing bio-based polymer sorbents from birch bark extractives – a task where the precision of chemistry meets the sustainable use of natural resources and the creativity of scientific exploration.

The road to wood chemistry

Daniela’s interest in chemistry and biology began already in high school, but literature had always been close to her heart. She comes from a family of philologists – her mother, Sandra Godiņa, holds a doctorate in philology, while her father, Guntars Godiņš, is a poet and literary translator.

After graduating from the Riga French Lycée, she submitted applications to the Faculty of Chemistry, to French philology, and to biology – and was accepted everywhere – but in the end made a spontaneous decision in favour of chemistry. Daniela became interested in wood chemistry research thanks to a lecturer who collaborated with the Institute and opened the door to the world of analytical chemistry.

Sorbents from birch bark – a postdoctoral challenge

In 2024, Daniela received the Baltic States Fellowship for Women in Science. She is currently carrying out a postdoctoral project synthesising sorbents from birch bark extractives.

Sorbents – substances capable of capturing and holding other substances – are usually produced from fossil resources. Daniela’s goal is to prove that they can be made from natural resources, specifically from birch.

“Every day when I open the laboratory door is a small miracle – you never know what the next result will be or what you will see when you look at your sorbent,” she says.

Science as a creative process

Although society still often holds the stereotype of scientists as “grey mice” in laboratories, Daniela believes that scientists must be creative and able to communicate their discoveries to a broader audience. She is convinced that it is impossible to spark young people’s interest with “dry facts” alone – it is essential to let one’s personality live beyond the laboratory and to show that science can be exciting.

International conference presentations, too, require a creative approach – visual solutions, striking examples, and engaging stories that capture listeners’ attention.

A closeness to nature and a source of inspiration

Although born and raised in Riga, Daniela calls herself a “child of nature.” Rest for her means being surrounded by nature, trees, and fresh air.

“Of course, when I’m outside work, I don’t cut trees into pieces or put them in test tubes – I look at them and enjoy watching them grow and live,” she smiles.

It is this connection with nature that gives deeper meaning to Daniela’s work. Sorbents from birch bark are not just a scientific solution – they are a story about how natural resources can be used wisely, creatively, and with respect.

“Science is a place where you can develop yourself as a human being and as a personality. It is a path where miracles happen – just like in nature, if we know how to see them,” says Daniela Godiņa.

Source: LSM