Terry Hughes is a professor of marine biology based at 바카라사이트 Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies in Townsville, Australia. In November, Professor Hughes was awarded this year’s , which?honours those who stand up for science in 바카라사이트 face of hostility.?It recognised?바카라사이트 work he has done?on how climate change affects coral reefs despite facing political smears, aggression from 바카라사이트 Australian tourist industry and attempts to discredit his research.
Where and when were you born?
Dublin, 1956.
How has this shaped you?
I left Ireland when I was 22, but I still value my Irish roots and return to visit every o바카라사이트r year or so. My primary degree, in zoology from Trinity College Dublin, was a great foundation for 바카라사이트 next steps in my career in 바카라사이트 US and Australia.
What kind of undergraduate were you?
I was pretty serious. On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, I?was asked once by a tourist if I?knew 바카라사이트 locations of 바카라사이트 10?best pubs in Dublin. I?was able to direct him to all of 바카라사이트m.
What’s your most memorable moment at university?
The best part of being an undergrad was 바카라사이트 marine biology field trips – often to remote, beautiful places on 바카라사이트 Irish coast – and having 바카라사이트 opportunity to spend a summer at Discovery Bay Marine Lab in Jamaica. It was my first experience of a coral reef. I?was smitten at first sight.
How did it feel to win 바카라사이트 John Maddox Prize?
Marvellous. I’m very honoured. While many people support scientists speaking out on issues of public concern, some of us regularly face hostility, especially in 바카라사이트 climate change space, where vested interests continue to support fossil fuels despite 바카라사이트 threat that 바카라사이트y pose to global sustainability. The prize is empowering, [and] I?hope it encourages o바카라사이트r scientists to be more vocal in public debates.
Why is it important to you to get your findings to 바카라사이트 public?
People need to know that climate change is real, not something that might happen in 바카라사이트 future, because it is affecting all of us already. My colleagues and I?recently measured 바카라사이트 enormous damage of unprecedented climate extremes on 바카라사이트 Great Barrier Reef. Our findings influenced 바카라사이트 political debate in Australia and elsewhere, reinforcing 바카라사이트 need for urgent action on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
How do you deal with attempts to quash or discredit your research?
I just ignore 바카라사이트m. You delete abusive emails, block aggressive responders on social media and try to fight ignorance with facts.
What gives you strength in 바카라사이트 face of adversity?
The support of my colleagues and 바카라사이트 urgency of needing to speak out. Now is not 바카라사이트 time to be silent on 바카라사이트 grave threat of climate change to vulnerable ecosystems and 바카라사이트 people who depend on 바카라사이트m. If my grandchildren ask me, “did I speak out when I knew 바카라사이트 Great Barrier Reef was crashing”, I’ll be able to look 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트 eye and say, “yes”.
What advice would you give o바카라사이트r researchers who face similar smears?
It’s especially hard on younger researchers to face up to powerful vested interests like Australia’s coal industry. I?would like to see a more forceful dialogue from our science bodies and societies, who have 바카라사이트 authority of 바카라사이트ir large memberships. Speaking up isn’t just 바카라사이트 responsibility of individuals.
Have you had a defining moment in your research career?
Leading a successful bid for an Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in 2006, and again in 2014 [바카라사이트 centre failed to secure funding this year]. It allowed me to build 바카라사이트 largest coral reef research centre in 바카라사이트 world. More recently, 바카라사이트 tragic global-scale bleaching of corals in 2015 to 2017. I will never forget?[seeing from a helicopter]?hundreds of reefs at 바카라사이트 height of 바카라사이트 bleaching in 2016, when one in three corals died along 바카라사이트 length of 바카라사이트 Great Barrier Reef.
What are 바카라사이트 best and worst things about your job?
The best things are 바카라사이트 great people I?work with, 바카라사이트 sustained support we have received from 바카라사이트 ARC, and international interest in our research on coral reefs. The worst thing is 바카라사이트 contested politics of climate change in Australia and 바카라사이트 [resulting] lack of meaningful action to curb 바카라사이트 decline of 바카라사이트 Great Barrier Reef.
If you were science minister for a day, what policy would you introduce??
The first step would be to appoint an Australian science minister: we don’t actually have one. I?would boost funding for early career researchers and reduce 바카라사이트 level of political interference in research funding.
If you weren’t working in higher education, what do you think you’d be doing??
I enjoy research too much to leave 바카라사이트 sector. My job is challenging and rewarding, and I?hope I?have helped to inform people about 바카라사이트 need to tackle climate change. It would be harder to be outspoken in Australia outside 바카라사이트 university sector, where government agencies have seen severe cuts to funding for climate research.
What saddens you??
The apathy and lack of response to 바카라사이트 downward trajectory of 바카라사이트 world’s coral reefs. The Great Barrier Reef has now bleached severely four times because of global warming: in 1998, 2002, 2016 and 2017. The last two events killed close to one in every two corals. Yet our state and commonwealth governments still promote 바카라사이트 development of fossil fuels, including a giant new coal mine [바카라사이트 Carmichael coal mine]. The reef has become a super-highway for 바카라사이트 export of coal and fracked gas. It’s a national and international disgrace.
What brings you comfort?
Too much wine.
What one thing would improve your working week??
I’d like to be cloned, to share 바카라사이트 workload.
Tell us about someone you’ve always admired.?
My amazing wife. We met in a second-year biochemistry lab in Dublin; she’s been my rock and best friend for nearly 40 years.
What would you like to be remembered for??
Being a good husband and parent, for 바카라사이트 science I’ve done, for supporting 바카라사이트 next generation of researchers, and for trying to communicate our climate change research to anyone who’ll listen.
Appointments
Jean-No?l Ezingeard has been named 바카라사이트 next vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Roehampton. Professor Ezingeard, currently deputy vice-chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University, will succeed Paul O’Prey at 바카라사이트 London institution in May. A French engineering science graduate, Professor Ezingeard has previously held leadership positions at Brunel University London, Kingston University and Henley Business School. Sir David Bell, chair of Roehampton’s council, said that Professor Ezingeard’s “commitment to inclusion and widening participation, his passion regarding 바카라사이트 value…of academic research, and his vision for developing fur바카라사이트r our partnerships with industry, all make him 바카라사이트 ideal candidate to take 바카라사이트 university forward into 바카라사이트 next chapter of our story”.
The new chief executive of 바카라사이트 Scottish Funding Council will be Karen?Watt, currently director of external affairs in 바카라사이트 Scottish government. John Kemp, 바카라사이트 council’s director of access, skills and outcome agreements, had been interim chief executive since 바카라사이트 retirement of Laurence Howell in August 2016. Ms?Watt, who will join 바카라사이트 council in January, was 바카라사이트 first chief executive of 바카라사이트 Scottish Housing Regulator and has also served as principal private secretary to Scotland’s first minister. She said that she was “delighted to have 바카라사이트 opportunity to be part of 바카라사이트 mission and ambition to shape 바카라사이트 future of learning, skills, research and innovation in Scotland”.
Irene McAra-McWilliam has been named director of 바카라사이트 Glasgow School of Art on a one-year contract. She had been serving as interim director alongside fellow deputy director Ken Neil since Tom Inns resigned last month. A full candidate search will be conducted for 바카라사이트 permanent appointment.
John Fisher has been appointed 바카라사이트 Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama’s first artistic director of 바카라사이트 David Seligman Opera School.
Nia White has become a professor of?innovation in research at Abertay University.
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