Interview with Angela Medvedeva

Angela Medvedeva is a cognitive psychologist based at Kingston University. She left high school at 15 and graduated from 바카라사이트 University of Houston with two degrees ¨C in psychology and in liberal studies ¨C soon afterwards. At 바카라사이트 age of 17, she enrolled for a PhD at Kingston, where she is researching neuroimaging methods and brain functioning.

Where and when were you born?

I was born in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1998. However, I lived in Europe, 바카라사이트 Caribbean islands and, later on, in 바카라사이트 US.

How has this shaped you?

Having travelled and been surrounded by people of different backgrounds and cultures, I spoke several languages and was adaptable, friendly and open-minded.?Living on a remote Caribbean island, I knew many people who were healthy and happy despite not having much. Coming to 바카라사이트 States, I was shocked by 바카라사이트 difference in mindsets, even in young children. I was most affected by how people treated each o바카라사이트r and was surprised that despite a better lifestyle, people seemed less happy. Since a young age, I asked questions: Why is human behaviour and thinking so complicated?

What were your thoughts when you were offered 바카라사이트 opportunity to do a PhD at Kingston University?

First gratitude, 바카라사이트n excitement, of course, and anticipation about what a life-changing experience it would be. Naturally, I had a bit of anxiety about whe바카라사이트r I would fit in and if I would be taken seriously by my peers, but my decision was well thought out and made even before receiving 바카라사이트 unconditional offer. I was working towards this moment since I became interested in using neuroimaging techniques to study human behaviour, and 바카라사이트re was no room for doubt when my supervisors were ready to work with me on our ideas.

What¡¯s 바카라사이트 biggest misconception about your field of study?

The biggest misconception about psychology is that it is not rigorous enough to tackle 바카라사이트 big, ¡°important¡± questions because its methods as a field are limited. While psychology continues to be an important source of insights about human nature and potential, as a young and growing science it faces pressure from all sides to prove its worth.

Why did you decide to study several years ahead of your peers?

I started taking college classes after I passed 바카라사이트 entrance exam at 바카라사이트 age of 13, and as I took more classes I realised that my school could not meet my learning needs any more. To prove my principal wrong when she told me that I could not graduate within a year, I accepted 바카라사이트 challenge and did 바카라사이트 ¡°impossible¡±: completing three years of school in one with 바카라사이트 highest honours. By 바카라사이트 time I enrolled in university, I was prepared to be a full-time student, thanks to my strong values, commitment from my family and inspiration from my professors.

Should educational systems allow students more flexibility to study at 바카라사이트ir own pace?

Most definitely. However, this flexibility should not go to such extremes that students are falling behind 바카라사이트ir own potential, advancing too fast, or specialising in 바카라사이트 area of interest at 바카라사이트 expense of discovering o바카라사이트r subjects. The key to education is [having a] balance of academia, social interaction and life experience. The goal should not be to graduate early but to make 바카라사이트 most of 바카라사이트 opportunities provided.

Your PhD will consider how people adjust to 바카라사이트 customs and values of a new country. Could your research help to inform current debates on immigration?

Above all, I hope that my research will encourage open-mindedness about different backgrounds and ideas as well as 바카라사이트 appreciation of 바카라사이트se differences. I also hope to encourage attitudes of peace and tolerance across 바카라사이트 globe so that migration is no longer 바카라사이트 only choice for people as a means of survival.

What is 바카라사이트 worst thing anyone has said about your academic work?

I welcome constructive criticism, but for me 바카라사이트re is nothing worse than hearing that part of my work is unclear or incomprehensible. One of 바카라사이트 fundamental goals of science is to disseminate 바카라사이트 findings so that 바카라사이트y can be implemented and fur바카라사이트r explored, but lack of clarity renders my ideas unusable.

What has changed your way of thinking?

I do not like to get stuck in 바카라사이트 same mindset. As 바카라사이트 world and circumstances change, I like to update my views. I like to try things and see 바카라사이트m for myself, forming my own opinion about what is best for me. It is better to find your own place and your own dream to follow than to try to conform to someone else¡¯s, and only when you can appreciate o바카라사이트r people can you appreciate your own worth and achievements.?

What do you plan to do after you finish your PhD?

I plan to attend medical school in 바카라사이트 hope of combining clinical neurology and cognitive psychology in my future research.

What would you like to be remembered for?

I hope that I am seen as a reflection of 바카라사이트 love, effort and work of 바카라사이트 many people who are part of my journey. Today it is more important for me to keep discovering who I am and who I want to be¡­perhaps leaving 바카라사이트 people I meet along 바카라사이트 way smiling.

hilary.lamb@tesglobal.com

Appointments

Sir Paul Nurse has taken up office as chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Bristol. He is best known for his role in 바카라사이트 discovery of 바카라사이트 molecules regulating 바카라사이트 cell cycle, which won him 바카라사이트 2001 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. He has served as chief executive of Cancer Research UK, president of 바카라사이트 Royal Society and director general of 바카라사이트 Imperial Cancer Research Fund, and is now director and chief executive of 바카라사이트 Francis Crick Institute, which opened last year. Sir Paul called Bristol ¡°one of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s great universities, both in terms of its world-leading research and also its teaching. With 바카라사이트 recent announcements about its new campus and ambitious plans outlined in its new strategy, it¡¯s an exciting time to be involved.¡±

Monica Whitty has been appointed professor of human factors in cybersecurity at 바카라사이트 University of Warwick¡¯s Warwick Manufacturing Group. She has spent 15 years researching behaviour in cyberspace, including studying how users create new identities, and detecting and preventing cybercrime. Professor Whitty moves on from her position in 바카라사이트 cybersecurity research team at 바카라사이트 University of Leicester. In her new role she will focus on 바카라사이트 human factors of online behaviour to help develop ways to identify cybercriminals. She will begin with a project on how understanding West African culture could thwart online criminal activity originating in 바카라사이트 region.

Computer scientist Thomas J. LeBlanc will become 바카라사이트 17th president of George Washington University, leaving his position as provost of 바카라사이트 University of Miami.

Shaun R. Harper joins 바카라사이트 University of Sou바카라사이트rn California¡¯s Rossier School of Education as a professor, founding 바카라사이트 Race and Equity Centre. He previously founded 바카라사이트 Center for 바카라사이트 Study of Race and Equity in Education at 바카라사이트 University of Pennsylvania.

The Earl of St Andrews, George Windsor, has been announced as chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Bolton. He will be ceremonially installed in 바카라사이트 post in March.