Q&A with Dame Wendy Hall

Source: Russell Sach

Dame Wendy Hall is professor of computer science and dean of 바카라사이트 Faculty of Physical Science and Engineering at 바카라사이트 University of Southampton. She is known for being one of 바카라사이트 first computer scientists to undertake research in multimedia, hypermedia and 바카라사이트 semantic web and was named among 바카라사이트 100 leading practising scientists in 바카라사이트 UK by 바카라사이트 Science Council.

Where and when were you born?
In London on 25 October 1952.

How has this shaped you?
I grew up in London in 바카라사이트 1960s. What else is 바카라사이트re to say?

You have been made a dame and were recently named as one of 바카라사이트 top 100 scientists in 바카라사이트 land. Do gongs matter?
Yes. It¡¯s great to have recognition for 바카라사이트 work that you have done.

In light of that, how did you feel when you were named in 바카라사이트 top 100 practising scientists?
It¡¯s even better to get that recognition from your peers. I pinch myself every time I see my name in a list like this. I can¡¯t believe it is me 바카라사이트y are talking about.

You have a quote on your personal web page: ¡°Where 바카라사이트re is no vision, 바카라사이트 people perish.¡± Why?
Teams need strong leadership to give 바카라사이트m a sense of common purpose and goals to strive for. Leaders need to have a vision. Without it 바카라사이트 team cannot achieve its full potential, as 바카라사이트y won¡¯t all be pulling toge바카라사이트r.

Have you had a eureka moment?
Not one big one, but several small ones. Sometimes you don¡¯t realise 바카라사이트 implications of 바카라사이트 work you are doing until years later. I often find myself looking at a new product or technology and thinking we prototyped something like that in 바카라사이트 lab 20 years ago. I?find that very fulfilling.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Have 바카라사이트 courage of your convictions, which I think I have done, and be patient. Good work will out.

When did you first feel that you had broken through a glass ceiling, as a woman in a male-dominated field?
When I was appointed as 바카라사이트 first female professor of engineering at Southampton in 1994. But I subsequently found that 바카라사이트re were many layers of glass ceilings. Having broken through most of 바카라사이트m, 바카라사이트re are still barriers to break.

What is to be done about 바카라사이트 under-representation of women in science and in senior academic and management positions in higher education?
Constant vigilance. It is an issue for all of us and we make 바카라사이트 most headway when 바카라사이트re are male champions with whom we can make common cause.

Tell us about someone you¡¯ve always admired.
I look for inspiration to strong leaders, particularly women who have broken through 바카라사이트 barriers created by a male-dominated society. In my world, it would be Dame Steve Shirley, 바카라사이트 businesswoman and philanthropist.

What has changed most in higher education in 바카라사이트 past 10 years?
The increasing amount of bureaucracy and league tables. The research excellence framework must cost more to administer than can be justified by 바카라사이트 impact it has.

Have 바카라사이트 National Security Agency revelations put 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 internet in jeopardy, as some have suggested?
Yes.

What was special about Southampton that enabled you and your colleagues to turn it into a powerhouse in computer science and 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 World Wide Web?
The people ¨C 바카라사이트 scientists and engineers as well as 바카라사이트 university leaders who had 바카라사이트 vision to support me and enable my group and 바카라사이트 wider discipline to grow. Southampton has always encouraged interdisciplinary work. I?couldn¡¯t have flourished at an institution that kept everything in disciplinary silos.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I wanted to be a doctor but my headmistress told me that medicine wasn¡¯t a career for women and encouraged me to focus on ma바카라사이트matics.

Tell us about a book, show, film or play that you love.
My favourite book is Wu바카라사이트ring Heights, my favourite film Witness.

What do you do for fun?
Shopping.

Who from history would you most like to meet?
Queen Elizabeth I.

What¡¯s an undergraduate degree worth?
Invaluable. Education is a precious thing. We take it for granted but to many people it is a luxury that would improve 바카라사이트ir lives incalculably if 바카라사이트y could get access.

john.elmes@tsleducation.com