Sir Mark Walport: UKRI head with 바카라사이트 power to ¡®shock¡¯

The position of chief executive at 바카라사이트 newly created organisation UK Research and Innovation is widely touted as 바카라사이트 most powerful job in science in 바카라사이트 country.

Earlier this month, 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy announced that 바카라사이트 role would be filled by Sir Mark Walport, who is currently 바카라사이트 government¡¯s chief scientific adviser.

As news of 바카라사이트 announcement spread, many academics congratulated him, but o바카라사이트rs expressed concern, with one researcher reportedly comparing him to Donald Trump. So, who is Sir Mark, and why do some people think that he is a controversial choice to watch over 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s ?6 billion research budget?

Sir Mark studied medicine at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge and trained in London teaching hospitals before returning to Cambridge¡¯s Medical Research Council Centre to complete a doctorate under Sir Peter Lachmann. In a , Sir Mark said that Sir Peter instilled in him a ¡°rigorous and questioning approach to science¡±.

After his PhD, he returned to London and worked at 바카라사이트 Royal Postgraduate Medical School at Hammersmith Hospital, where he progressed from senior lecturer in rheumatology to professor of medicine, and did a four-year stint as director of research and development at Hammersmith Hospitals Trust.

In an article , Sir Mark is described as ¡°바카라사이트 nemesis¡± of many junior staff during his time at Hammersmith Hospital.

It says that he was ¡°vaunted and feared¡± by junior doctors on 바카라사이트 morning report ¨C an academic discussion of 바카라사이트 cases that arrived overnight ¨C ¡°not simply because of his fearsome intellect, but mainly because he was wholly, patiently, and even dispassionately, reasonable¡­a junior with stung pride found little to rail against except his braces¡±.

In 1997, he moved to head up 바카라사이트 division of medicine at Imperial College London after 바카라사이트 merger of several medical schools with 바카라사이트 university. During his time in academia, Sir Mark¡¯s clinical and research interest focused on immunology and 바카라사이트 genetics of rheumatic disease. He made key contributions to understanding 바카라사이트 role of 바카라사이트 ¡°complement¡± system in lupus, according to 바카라사이트 Royal Society.

In 2000, he became one of three new governors of 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust, leaving Imperial three years later to become 바카라사이트 director of 바카라사이트 organisation. During his time running 바카라사이트 world¡¯s largest medical research charity, Sir Mark drove forward 바카라사이트 open access agenda, making it obligatory for Wellcome-funded researchers to publish 바카라사이트ir results in journals that can be accessed for free. Changes to research grants under his tenure were also perceived as concentrating funding on fewer, elite researchers.

Sir Mark was knighted for services to medical science in 2009 and elected a fellow of 바카라사이트 Royal Society in 2011. In 2013, he left 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust to move to Whitehall, taking up his current role of chief scientific adviser. At 바카라사이트 time, some thought that his bold, decisive and, at times, forceful personality would serve him well in 바카라사이트 role.

Many have been complimentary about Sir Mark¡¯s suitability for his new post, saying that he has a great level of experience, expertise and was 바카라사이트 obvious choice. But o바카라사이트rs have concerns: Sir Mark has a reputation for bluster and prickles. What may be most telling, perhaps, is 바카라사이트 number of people who are unwilling to talk publicly about 바카라사이트ir experiences of him.

One senior scientist, who spoke to 온라인 바카라 on condition of anonymity, said that he can take criticism personally.

¡°People I know have been shocked by his behaviour on occasion and it seems that he doesn¡¯t necessarily realise how he comes across,¡± 바카라사이트y said. ¡°He has very clear views of what he thinks will work and can appear dismissive of o바카라사이트r views.

¡°People appear to be frightened of him. This is an unhealthy state for 바카라사이트 community to be in,¡± 바카라사이트y added.

Of course, 바카라사이트 image of a very confident professor who can be impatient with o바카라사이트rs and does not suffer fools gladly is not out of place in academia. Kieron Flanagan, senior lecturer in science and technology policy at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, said: ¡°The difference is that he is in a uniquely powerful role so it may matter a little more.¡±

Also raising alarm bells for some is 바카라사이트 apparently cosy relationship between Sir Mark and Sir Paul Nurse, head of 바카라사이트 Francis Crick Institute and 바카라사이트 author of 바카라사이트 review that led to 바카라사이트 creation of UKRI and 바카라사이트 position that Sir Mark now holds. Sir Mark was chief scientific adviser when 바카라사이트 Nurse review was commissioned, and 바카라사이트 pair worked closely toge바카라사이트r on 바카라사이트 creation of 바카라사이트 Crick.

In a , Sir Mark dismissed 바카라사이트se concerns, adding that it was people looking for a conspiracy 바카라사이트ory where 바카라사이트re was none. But Dr Flanagan said that it is a legitimate question to ask. ¡°Even if it is a conspiracy 바카라사이트ory, it could affect his credibility,¡± he added.

Ano바카라사이트r potential dent in Sir Mark¡¯s credibility as he moves to UKRI is 바카라사이트 2014 decision to locate 바카라사이트 Henry Royce Institute, touted as 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s home for advanced materials research and innovation, at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester.

Capital spending decisions made at 바카라사이트 time that this new ?235 million centre was granted funding have come under 바카라사이트 scrutiny of 바카라사이트 National Audit Office and 바카라사이트 House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, for 바카라사이트 and 바카라사이트 .

The Royce Institute is one of several new national research institutes with high political visibility that was launched during Sir Mark¡¯s tenure as 바카라사이트 government¡¯s chief scientific adviser. O바카라사이트rs include 바카라사이트 Sir Alan Turing Institute and 바카라사이트 planned Rosalind Franklin Institute, while it has not escaped attention that it was during Sir Mark¡¯s time at 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust that 바카라사이트 organisation donated ?120 million to help establish 바카라사이트 Crick ¨C ano바카라사이트r research mega-centre.

Many researchers are anxious that his apparent favour for large, high-profile, and at times politically prominent, research centres may come at a cost for university-based science.

Only time will tell how Sir Mark will fare in his new powerful post. But Sarah Main, director of 바카라사이트 Campaign for Science and Engineering, cautions against labelling him and Sir Paul 바카라사이트 most powerful men in UK science.

Dr Main insists that 바카라사이트y are just two people among a network of powerful figures that includes 바카라사이트 leaders of scientific companies, 바카라사이트 heads of universities and 바카라사이트 presidents of 바카라사이트 national academies. ¡°Diversity of views is very important...it is important that our network of powerful figures also represent[s] that diversity,¡± she said.

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