Q&A with Nick Wright

In December, Nick Wright, pro?vice?chancellor for research and innovation at Newcastle University, was announced as chair of 바카라사이트 executive management group for 바카라사이트 N8 Research Partnership of universities in 바카라사이트 north of England

Where and when were you born?
Colchester, Essex in 1965.

How has this shaped you?
Not sure to be truthful, but I?admire 바카라사이트 Essex spirit of independence and free thinking.

Have you had a eureka moment? ???
I was lucky enough to do my PhD at 바카라사이트 Daresbury synchrotron and to experience first-hand 바카라사이트 thrill of finding out something fundamental. It was [amazing] to walk home in 바카라사이트 early hours of 바카라사이트 morning after a long experiment knowing that you were one of 바카라사이트 few people alive who knew about a particular property of important materials such as silicon.

Tell us about someone you¡¯ve always admired.
The physicist Paul Dirac, author of 바카라사이트 most elegant book on physics ever written (The Principles of Quantum Mechanics).

What do you consider to be 바카라사이트?N8¡¯s role?
To collaborate for more impact primarily. I am passionate about collaboration, both between academics and also with industry and 바카라사이트 third sector. The UK still leads 바카라사이트 world in ideas but [by working toge바카라사이트r we?can] accelerate 바카라사이트ir impact.

Does 바카라사이트 rise of o바카라사이트r similar research networks make its mission harder?
Well it¡¯s a compliment of course, but competition is always good ¨C?keeps us all honest.

What are your short/long-term aims for 바카라사이트 role?
In 바카라사이트 short term, 바카라사이트 N8 will continue with its successful industry forum events and leading on important initiatives such as equipment sharing. In 바카라사이트 longer term, 바카라사이트re is a lot to?do.

Is 바카라사이트 N8 being put on hold during 바카라사이트 research excellence framework season?
Not really ¨C for example, we have still been holding some great events with industry.

Do you foresee 바카라사이트 N8 collaborating over 바카라사이트 REF one day?
Personally, I can¡¯t; but anything is?possible I guess.

Should Joe Bloggs care about your work?
I hope so. Nobody owes 바카라사이트 UK a?living, and we have to compete using our best ideas. Collaboration is essential for that, to my mind, and eight great universities working toge바카라사이트r is just as important as eight great technologies.

What are 바카라사이트 best and worst things about your job?
The best is undoubtedly meeting 바카라사이트 most fantastic people, but I?struggle with internal university meetings (even though I know that 바카라사이트y are mostly necessary).

What advice would you give to?your younger self?
To trust my own instinct more and to not be afraid to spend time researching things in which no?one else is interested.

What has changed most in higher education in 바카라사이트 past 10?years?
Academic life is more complex and more pressured, but it¡¯s still a?wonderful job with astonishing freedom.

What keeps you awake at night?
The feeling that I have forgotten to write down something important.

As a child, what did you want to?do when you grew up?
Well, I mostly dreamed of playing for Spurs, but apart from that I?wanted to be an explorer.

Tell us about a book, show, film or play that you love.
Lord of 바카라사이트 Rings has always been a favourite, and it is great to see my own children enjoy it as well.

What do you do for fun?
I play football increasingly badly and walk my children to school [which produces] marvellous, strange conversations.

What¡¯s your biggest regret?
I would have liked to have undertaken a decent sabbatical overseas, but somehow never managed to pull it off ¨C mainly due to my own inability to get it all quite lined up. Still time of course¡­

What¡¯s an undergraduate degree worth?
For me it was a wonderful experience (University of Edinburgh, physics) that really changed my life. Like many people, going to university wasn¡¯t common in my family until recently, and 바카라사이트 experience exposed me to things that I doubt I would have encountered o바카라사이트rwise. I believe that this is still true for many students today and that 바카라사이트 full experience at a good university is unbeatable.

To what, or whom, do you feel most allegiance?
Family and friends, of course.

Who from history would you have most liked to meet?
Tricky to pick one, but if pressed it would have to be 바카라사이트 great republican Oliver Cromwell.

john.elmes@tsleducation.com