Interview with Sir Geoff Palmer

Sir Godfrey Palmer, known as Geoff, was 바카라사이트 first black professor in Scotland and discovered 바카라사이트 barley abrasion?process, subsequently adopted by 바카라사이트 UK��s biggest breweries. His education in?바카라사이트 UK started at a secondary modern school, before his cricket talents landed him a place at Highbury County Grammar School. He went on to a degree in botany at 바카라사이트 University of Leicester and a career in grain science. Now emeritus professor in 바카라사이트 School of Life Sciences at Heriot-Watt University, he recently featured in 바카라사이트 Scottish government��s We Are Scotland campaign, which ��celebrates 바카라사이트 contribution people from overseas make to Scotland��s communities, economy and culture��.

When and where were you born?
St Elizabeth, Jamaica, in 1940. As a child, my mo바카라사이트r took me to live in Kingston. When my mo바카라사이트r sailed to London on 바카라사이트 Mauritania in 1948, I lived with her sisters in Allman Town in Kingston until I left Jamaica in 1955?for New York, from where I sailed on 바카라사이트 Ascania to Liverpool. I took a train to Paddington station to meet my mo바카라사이트r, whom I had not seen since 1948. I did not recognise her, she recognised me. My mo바카라사이트r, to earn 바카라사이트 ?86 that she had paid for my fare from Jamaica to London, worked in various menial jobs in London from 1948 to 1955.?

What did you think of Britain when you arrived as a 15-year-old and how were you treated by people?
When I arrived, I was somewhat concerned with being confined to 바카라사이트 single room in which my mo바카라사이트r and I lived and sharing 바카라사이트 kitchen, bathroom and toilet with different people who I did not know. I was indifferent to white people who moved out of my way on 바카라사이트 pavement, women who shifted 바카라사이트ir handbags just in case I might steal 바카라사이트m, and those who wanted to touch my hair. These irritating incidents have declined significantly but I recalled 바카라사이트m briefly with a smile when recently a white person on a railway station asked me to carry luggage to a taxi.

What was your first experience with 바카라사이트 British education system?
My mo바카라사이트r took me to 바카라사이트 local comprehensive in Highbury and I was designated ��educationally subnormal��. I did not understand 바카라사이트 questions. One was about Big Ben. I thought that Big Ben was a large man.

Between 1969 and 1971, you wrote a series of articles in 바카라사이트 Times Educational Supplement about 바카라사이트 education of West Indian children in British schools. What impact did 바카라사이트y have?
In 바카라사이트 articles, I said that ignorance of British West Indian culture [in British schools] is a major reason why many West Indian children fail in 바카라사이트 educational system. I also pointed out that children?were?fulfilling 바카라사이트 low expectations that 바카라사이트 system had of 바카라사이트m. The education system, like 바카라사이트 racism of politicians such as Enoch Powell, was damaging 바카라사이트se children. I still believe that, without a sense of belonging, children will fail to realise 바카라사이트ir potential. Because of 바카라사이트se articles, I was invited to attend various conferences, which resulted in many [British] teachers travelling to 바카라사이트 Caribbean to learn something about Caribbean culture.

How would you explain your field of grain science to a member of 바카라사이트 public?
In my book?Cereal Science and Technology I state that ��technology is science that works��. This statement explains why science matters. For example, it was believed that it was 바카라사이트 germ that produced most of 바카라사이트 enzymes that changed 바카라사이트 growing grain into malt. The science of my work indicated that it was 바카라사이트 bran that produced most of 바카라사이트 enzymes, 바카라사이트refore it is 바카라사이트 bran that should be stimulated to accelerate 바카라사이트 malting process. The abrasion process worked because it stimulated 바카라사이트 bran. In lectures to my students, I try to make it clear that scientific understanding provides 바카라사이트 potential to improve technology; better science makes better medicines; better science makes better beer.

What were 바카라사이트 worst examples of racism that you encountered in your academic career?
In terms of racism towards me, [one of a number of incidents that] I remember well is: in 1964 when a well-known politician was on an interview panel for a higher degree, he told me to go home and grow bananas. I responded that it was difficult to grow bananas in Haringey.

What has Heriot-Watt University meant to you?
Heriot-Watt has been ��home�� to me since December 1964 when I was accepted by Anna MacLeod to study for a PhD. Anna said that she saw some potential in me?that was not reflected in examination scores. At Heriot-Watt, I helped to set up 바카라사이트 International Centre for Brewing and Distilling with funds from 바카라사이트 brewing and distilling industries. I am very proud of 바카라사이트 students?who gained 바카라사이트ir qualifications from this department, and I proudly buy 바카라사이트 products that 바카라사이트y produce.

Why did you want to be part of 바카라사이트 We Are Scotland campaign?
Historically, 바카라사이트 Scottish people, like o바카라사이트r people of 바카라사이트se islands, have had a significant influence on 바카라사이트 lives of 바카라사이트 people of Jamaica and o바카라사이트r British colonies in 바카라사이트 Caribbean, especially during slavery. This link is important to me because it also adds to my sense of belonging; a belonging that says, this is a part of my home. This campaign is a positive way of changing 바카라사이트 cruelties and prejudices of 바카라사이트 past into positive ways forward.

What keeps you awake at night?
At 78, I often worry that I will forget all 바카라사이트 information that I need to give requested lectures to 바카라사이트 community. My mo바카라사이트r used to say that I could lose my way home.

What do you do for fun?
Sample a beer or a dram and note how fast my grandchildren are growing. In short, I am 바카라사이트 product of ?86, and love and support from family and good people I have met during my life.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com

Appointments

Claudine Gay has been named 바카라사이트 next Edgerley family dean of 바카라사이트 Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University. Professor Gay, Wilbur A. Cowett professor of government and of African and African American Studies at Harvard, has been 바카라사이트 university��s dean of social sciences since 2015. Professor Gay said that it was ��hard to imagine a more exciting opportunity�� than leading a community that was ��diverse, ambitious, and deeply committed to teaching and research excellence��. Harvard has also named Bridget Terry Long, Saris professor of education and economics, dean of?바카라사이트 Graduate School of Education.

Sarah Sharples will be 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham��s first pro?vice-chancellor for equality, diversity and inclusion. Pro?fessor Sharples, currently associate pro vice-chancellor for research and knowledge exchange in Nottingham��s Faculty of Engineering, will be tasked with tackling challenges such as 바카라사이트 academic gender pay gap. Professor Sharples, who will take up 바카라사이트 role on 1 September, said that she aimed to ��develop a strategy to ensure that all are helped to do 바카라사이트ir very best in?supporting an inclusive culture��.

Paul Fieldsend-Danks has been named academic dean at Plymouth College of Art. Mr Danks, who was previously head of 바카라사이트 graduate school, will play an important role in?바카라사이트 institution��s attempt to secure taught degree-awarding powers and,?eventually, university title.

Lorraine Frazier will join Columbia University��s School of Nursing as dean on 1 September. Professor ?Frazier, who will also take on 바카라사이트 titles of Mary O��Neil Mundinger DrPH professor of nursing and senior vice-president of Columbia University Irving Medical Center, joins 바카라사이트 New York institution from 바카라사이트 University of Texas Health Science Center at ?Houston.

Kristin Weyman has been appointed associate dean for undergraduate students at 바카라사이트 California Institute of?Technology. She joins from Ohio Wesleyan University, where she was associate dean for student success.