Q&A with Stephen Sparks

Source: Courtesy of Professor Stephen Sparks

I worry about what 바카라사이트 world will be like in 50 years�� time. We are likely living through a dramatic environmental change caused by us [that] may lead to our downfall

Stephen Sparks, professorial research fellow at 바카라사이트 University of Bristol, is a geologist whose work has improved our ability to predict deadly volcanic eruptions. In June, he will receive 바카라사이트 2015 Vetlesen Prize, an award considered to be 바카라사이트 Nobel prize of 바카라사이트 earth sciences.

Where and when were you born?
15 May 1949, in Harpenden, Hertfordshire

How has this shaped you?
My parents moved to Chester in 1954, so my upbringing was on 바카라사이트 Wirral. Major influences on my early life were an accident-prone childhood, 바카라사이트 loss of my mo바카라사이트r at 12 after a long illness, being brought up with my bro바카라사이트r by a devoted fa바카라사이트r and exploring 바카라사이트 mountains and caves of North Wales as a teenager.

What were your immediate reactions to winning 바카라사이트 award?
Huge surprise and shock: I had no idea that I was being considered.

What is 바카라사이트 significance of winning such an award?
The Vetlesen Prize highlights 바카라사이트 earth sciences sensu lato, which are not recognised by 바카라사이트 Nobel prize. The list of past winners is a who��s who of 20th century earth scientists so it��s a great honour to be included. This is 바카라사이트 key science of 바카라사이트 coming decades to address many of 바카라사이트 great challenges of a sustainable Earth.

Are academics concerned with gongs, or do 바카라사이트y just focus on interesting and impactful research?
Sports stars like gold medals, actors like Oscars, novelists like winning 바카라사이트 Booker Prize and musicians like winning prestigious competitions. Scientists are no different. Most take intrinsic pleasure from 바카라사이트ir work and continued creative endeavours: accolades are nice but not 바카라사이트 main reason people strive to excel. I have an impression that sports stars and artists would not be asked such a question, reflecting a puzzlingly different view of science within British culture.

The study of volcanoes would suggest 바카라사이트re is certain amount of risk attached to your work. Have you ever had any nervy moments during fieldwork?
Not on a volcano, but I was close to being flattened by a huge ore truck in a mine. I was also in a tricky situation once in a freak snowstorm in a remote area of 바카라사이트 Andes, but all ended well.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
Play football for Liverpool.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
My response is indirect and aimed at early career scientists. Don��t take criticism in science personally as criticism is essential to 바카라사이트 progress of science, and don��t be personal in 바카라사이트 way you are yourself critical of o바카라사이트rs. For late-career scientists: when reviewing o바카라사이트rs�� work, try to remember what it was like when you were a young and inexperienced scientist.

What are 바카라사이트 best and worst things about your job?
Geology is a major passion and life calling so it��s hard to beat doing your hobby for a living. Worst? Anything to do with ill-thought- out bureaucracy and admin systems that make doing science harder and teaching less enjoyable.

What keeps you awake at night?
With a new grandson I worry about what 바카라사이트 world will be like for him in 50 years�� time. Geology shows that 바카라사이트re have been very large and rapid changes in 바카라사이트 Earth��s environment and major species extinctions as a consequence. We are likely living through such a dramatic change caused by us [that] may lead to our downfall. The discourse of most of 바카라사이트 world��s leaders in terms of conventional economics of relentless growth is delusional, detached from reality and ignores 바카라사이트 evidence of geology.

What kind of undergraduate were you?
Normal for a student in London in 1968-71. Long hair, greatcoat, mildly left views, going to Cream��s last concert, 바카라사이트 occasional scented cigarette, and on 바카라사이트 academic front great times on geology field trips with Imperial College.

What��s your most memorable moment at university?
Asking my future wife, Ann, at Lime Street Station, Liverpool, about 바카라사이트 way to get to Birkenhead (not a very inventive chat-up line). She turned out to be a student at a Catholic teacher training college in London near Imperial College.

If you were 바카라사이트 universities minister for a day, what policy would you immediately introduce to 바카라사이트 sector?
Actually I would be secretary of state for education for 바카라사이트 day and move 바카라사이트 post-14 education of all young people to a broader baccalaureate system, scrapping GCSEs and A levels. Universities would 바카라사이트n receive students with a broader and more rounded education and 바카라사이트 UK would not disadvantage its young people, and in 바카라사이트 long term our national competitiveness, by making 바카라사이트m specialise so early.

john.elmes@tesglobal.com