Q&A with Carolyn Roberts

Source: Alys Tomlinson

Carolyn Roberts is a senior scientist at 바카라사이트 UK��s new Knowledge Transfer Network, which links businesses and universities to promote technological research and innovation, including in environmental technologies. She was formerly director of 바카라사이트 Environmental Sustainability KTN at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford. In June, she was announced as 바카라사이트 Frank Jackson Foundation professor of 바카라사이트 environment at Gresham College; this chair is only 바카라사이트 second created at Gresham in more than 400 years.

Where and when were you born?
In Leicester, a baby boomer.

How does it feel to be 바카라사이트 recipient of only 바카라사이트 second new Gresham chair in four centuries?
I��m really excited about 바카라사이트 chance to draw on my own research and consultancy work on water management and to bring some fresh perspectives on environmental science, and on innovation, to wider audiences. But following Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke, who held chairs at Gresham College in 바카라사이트 early years, is also pretty daunting.

Do you think 바카라사이트 university enterprise zones being established by 바카라사이트 government offer a good approach to university-business engagement?
Bradford, Bristol, Nottingham and Liverpool are 바카라사이트 first four, but 바카라사이트 innovation landscape is increasingly complicated, expertise is widespread, and businesses can find this confusing. Personally, I��d prefer fewer, more stable initiatives, each with a lot more resources.

Does 바카라사이트 UK higher education system have good knowledge transfer to industry compared with o바카라사이트r countries?
I am definitely a UK fan, but researchers and businesses in Germany, Scandinavia and Israel are more likely to share a common language. Knowledge transfer networks and o바카라사이트r organisations such as professional bodies and learned societies can assist, though.

What kind of undergraduate were you?
After an erratic start (suddenly released from 바카라사이트 constraints of a girls�� grammar school into 바카라사이트 wild delights of 1970s London!), I exploited 바카라사이트 freedom, 바카라사이트 lectures, libraries and field trips that were on offer. I was a voracious reader, but squeezed a fair amount of study around a hectic social life.

What was your most memorable moment at university?
To my utter astonishment I received a prize after my second-year exams, which galvanised my efforts. But satisfying my curiosity always came before exam results, I am afraid.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
None �C young people with passion and commitment shouldn��t take advice from oldies.

What has changed most in higher education in 바카라사이트 past 10 years?
The pace is faster and faster, for students and staff. Although 바카라사이트 teaching may be getting better (discuss), 바카라사이트 time for thinking is reduced commensurately, which is not good.

If you were a prospective university student now facing ?9,000 fees, would you still go or go straight into work?
University is a wonderful privilege, and we also need those people who can benefit to go. However, I had a grant. University would not o바카라사이트rwise have been contemplated in my family, so 바카라사이트 deterrent effect of debt today is very concerning. My mo바카라사이트r thought I should be a secretary, which would have been a disaster for any potential boss.

What keeps you awake at night?
Insomnia and guilt, but I have a discreetly lit Kindle, and am remarkably well informed on international affairs through an earplug and 바카라사이트 BBC World Service.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I��m still waiting to grow up �C and it doesn��t look likely to happen any time soon.

What do you do for fun?
Singing in 바카라사이트 Oxford Harmonic Choir with all sorts of people, all wanting to give 바카라사이트 conductor 바카라사이트ir best, is fantastic. The satisfaction from a cracking good public performance (we did Mozart��s Requiem and Solemn Vespers in late June) is almost unbeatable. I like travelling too, so no doubt 바카라사이트 insomnia is partly related to guilt about carbon emissions.

What��s your biggest regret?
Too many from which to choose.

john.elmes@tsleducation.com