Students from partners schools, formulated questions in order to take an interview from Miss Joanna Iliopoulou, who is a civil engineer.

Students and teachers used a collaborative tool (google doc) in order to write down the question and create a collaborative interview.

You can find our interview also in greek and in Turkish.

We have the chance to meet Miss Joanna Iliopoulou in an online meeting,  she answer to our questions. Children were so happy for this interview!! 

Interview with the Civil Engineer Miss Joanna Iliopoulou

1.What is your name?

My name is Joanna Iliopoulou

2.Where do you live?

I live in Patra

3.What is your professional?

I am a civil engineer

4.What does civil engineer mean? What exactly are you doing?

A Civil Engineer designs, studies and supervises the construction of technical projects, such as buildings, roads, bridges, ports, airports etc.

5.Why do you go where earthquakes occur? If there is an earthquake, what do you do? (After the earthquake);

When an earthquake occurs, we are the first go to the buildings in order to decide if these buildings are suitable for people to stay in or not.

6. How do you get to work? Do you work near your home?

I don't work near. Many times I can even work outside my city. Depending on where the earthquake occurred. I have gone by car to many cities, as Athens, Lefkada, Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Kalamata, Pyrgos, etc.

7. Do you wear a uniform? Do you have tools?

In the buildings where we do an autopsy, we go to examine what damage they have from the earthquake, we have to wear a helmet. We also have a tape measure and a spray with us in order  to color the buildings depending on whether they are suitable or not.

8. What do you see in the buildings after the earthquake?

After the earthquake, we visit the buildings to see whether the damage it has caused any problems or not.

9. How do you know a building is OK after an earthquake? How do you know a building needs to be rebuilt? How do you know a building needs to be demolished because it's not strong?

Depending on the damage and how serious it is, we decide whether it can be repaired or demolished. If there are no damages the building is safe.

10. What do you do in these buildings?

I notice carefully where the damage is and how big it is.

11. Is a house easy to demolish?

A house is not easy to demolish, you have to know where to hit it to make it fall without causing problems.

12. Do houses collapse when there is an earthquake for a long time?

It doesn't just matter how long the earthquake lasts, but how intense it is or how deep it is. All of these together can, if they are large in number, make a building to collapse.

13. Is there a danger when you go to houses that have been demolished after the earthquake?

If a house has been demolished, it is no longer dangerous, but if it has serious damages and is still standing ... It is very dangerous for all.

14. How do you know that buildings and houses have a problem?

When the cracks are large, walls have fallen or the roof has collapsed

15. How do you know that houses can be inhabited?

When there is no damage at all or there are damages that can be repaired.

16. My house is very strong. Do you have a strong home?

My house is quite strong and safe.

17. Do you know how to make doors and railings?

Yes i know to design this products but not to make them. This is the job of the carpenter about the doors and the blacksmith for the railings.

18. Have you seen sad people when their homes are demolished?

Many times and especially older people who have lived in these houses for many years.

19. Is it "sad" to have houses demolished and to have an animal inside. Do you like animals?

I love animals and of course I will terrible sorry if an animal be hurt from an earthquake

 20. Are you afraid of high altitudes and sharp objects?

No, I'm not afraid of heights or sharp objects.

21. Have you ever been to a skyscraper?

Yes, I've been to America in a skyscraper ... It was a great experience!!!

22. Are you scared at all? Are you afraid of the earthquake?

I am afraid of many things, such as the health of my children. But I have learned to deal with the earthquake by following the instructions of the experts.

23. If there is an earthquake when you are at work, what do you do?

I don't panic, I stay calm and follow the instructions.

24. Do you like your job?

Yes i really love my job. Being a civil engineer makes me feel complete. It is very important to help people in difficult times.