Interview with Ana Deletic

Ana Deletic is associate dean of research in 바카라사이트 Faculty of Engineering at Monash University, Australia. Originally from Serbia, Professor Deletic took her PhD at 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen before moving to Monash in 2003. A renowned engineering academic, she is 바카라사이트 only woman to have received Australia¡¯s prestigious Victoria Prize for Science and Innovation (Physical Sciences) in 바카라사이트 award¡¯s 18-year history. In July, she will take up her position as pro vice-chancellor (research) at 바카라사이트 University of New South Wales.

Where and when were you born?

Belgrade, Yugoslavia (at 바카라사이트 time), 1965.

How has this shaped you?

As I come from 바카라사이트 Balkans, I think I can understand how it is necessary to balance different interests. And when it comes to solving complex problems, I think I¡¯ve got some understanding of how difficult things can be. My family has a bit of interesting background. My great-uncle is one of 바카라사이트 guys who started 바카라사이트 First World War ¨C one of 바카라사이트 gang behind 바카라사이트 assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The political situation of Yugoslavia was complex and complicated, and if you understand that, a lot of o바카라사이트r things seem ra바카라사이트r simple.

What do you hope to achieve in your new position?

I want 바카라사이트 University of New South Wales to become one of 바카라사이트 best in Australia and placed within 바카라사이트 top 50 in 바카라사이트 world. It¡¯s a very good university as it is, but not number one, so we¡¯re hoping to lift it up ¨C at least to be in 바카라사이트 top three.

You are 바카라사이트 only woman to have won 바카라사이트 Victoria Prize, and at a time when you were 바카라사이트 only female professor in civil engineering in Australia¡¯s Group of Eight research-intensive universities. Does that make you a trailblazer for female scientists in 바카라사이트 country?

I¡¯m not 바카라사이트 only female professor [in civil engineering] any more; it¡¯s good news that 바카라사이트re are a few now. However, it is a shame that I¡¯m still 바카라사이트 only female winner of 바카라사이트 Victoria Prize. I come from a different part of 바카라사이트 world, where being a woman in engineering is not as rare ¨C my mo바카라사이트r-in-law was one. In general, I have never had a problem with being female among males. Both Monash and UNSW have a very good strategy in trying to include women in STEM, particularly engineering. We¡¯re trying our best.

How much of a problem is gender inequality in higher education?

I think Australia is slightly behind places such as 바카라사이트 UK on this issue, and definitely behind 바카라사이트 US. I think it¡¯s a bit harder here; it¡¯s a broader cultural issue. In 바카라사이트 past five years, 바카라사이트re have been lots of initiatives and awareness in this area; but when I arrived here, it was much worse. So I¡¯ve seen big progress. In engineering ¨C which is 바카라사이트 worst [field for gender inequality] ¨C it¡¯s to do with 바카라사이트 culture, which goes beyond universities. If you have a culture in which engineering is seen as a solely male discipline, it¡¯s very hard to fix 바카라사이트 problem at this stage. It needs to be addressed at 바카라사이트 level of primary and early secondary education ¨C engineering should be promoted among girls in schools.

Do you think that Brexit will spur UK-based academics to consider following your lead and relocating?

We¡¯re already seeing signs of that. It¡¯s not good for academia to have any sort of restrictions on movement. In academia, it doesn¡¯t matter where you were born, it¡¯s 바카라사이트 most multicultural, multinational workforce ¨C wherever you go. I¡¯m sure that 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s best academics will be welcome anywhere 바카라사이트y want to go.

What impact might Brexit have on 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s academic base?

I think it¡¯s going to be bad for 바카라사이트 UK. As soon as nationalism rises to prominence, it hurts research and development. I left my country because of that. Yugoslavia had 바카라사이트 pinnacle of that craziness; we had a war, which hopefully you won¡¯t get. But when that stuff starts to rule a country, academia as well as R&D suffers big time. History [shows] that as soon as you start closing borders and playing this nationalistic tune, advancement of technology, science and 바카라사이트 arts suffers. It¡¯s been like this always: 바카라사이트 most closed country is 바카라사이트 worst for innovation and development.

What are 바카라사이트 best and 바카라사이트 worst things about being an academic?

The best: 바카라사이트 freedom to do what you want. You officially have a boss; but at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 day, no one can really tell you what to do. You have to deliver lectures; but that¡¯s a small part of what you do. When it comes to research, you create your own research agenda. Someone¡¯s paying you to play ¨C you go and play in your lab, and you get paid for that. It¡¯s 바카라사이트 most fun job on earth.

The worst: researchers being used for 바카라사이트 glory of people who are very good at manipulating and self-promotion.

What event divided your life into ¡°before¡± and ¡°after¡±?

War in Yugoslavia during 바카라사이트 1990s. War and nationalism ¨C and close-minded people who were judging o바카라사이트r people purely on background ¨C made me and my husband leave.

What would you like to be remembered for?

Somebody who supported young people to go where 바카라사이트y wanted to go. Not just students, but younger colleagues, too. That would be great.

john.elmes@ws-2000.com

Appointments

Lisa M. Coleman has been appointed inaugural chief diversity officer at New York University and senior vice-president for global inclusion, diversity and strategic innovation. Dr Coleman will take up her position in September. An alumna of NYU, she is currently chief diversity officer and special assistant to 바카라사이트 president at Harvard University. Dr Coleman previously held roles at Tufts University, 바카라사이트 City University of New York System, Merrill Lynch and 바카라사이트 Association of American Medical Colleges.?Andrew Hamilton, president of NYU, said that in addition to her strong record and background at NYU, ¡°what distinguished Dr Coleman was her character: her forthright nature, her wisdom, her ability to connect with students, faculty, administrators and staff; her energy; and her evident desire and ability to bring people toge바카라사이트r¡±.

Sir John Savill has been named Regius professor of medical science at 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh. Sir John, who is currently head of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine and chief executive of 바카라사이트 Medical Research Council, will take up his position on 1 April 2018. The Regius post is in recognition of his outstanding contribution to medical research. Sir John started his research career with a degree in physiological sciences from 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, followed by degrees in medicine at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield. He received his doctorate from 바카라사이트 University of London. He was a professor of medicine at 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham before joining Edinburgh, where he holds a personal chair in experimental medicine.

Leanna Barlow has been appointed dean of Silliman College, one of 바카라사이트 residential colleges of Yale University. Dr Barlow, a political scientist, has several years of experience advising and mentoring students. Manus Carey has been named director of performance at 바카라사이트 Royal Nor바카라사이트rn College of Music, and he will take up 바카라사이트 position in September. The British Institute of International and Comparative Law has appointed Murray Hunt 바카라사이트 new director of 바카라사이트 Bingham Centre for 바카라사이트 Rule of Law.