Interview with Camilla Pang

Camilla Pang is a postdoctoral researcher specialising in translational bioinformatics. Last year, she won 바카라사이트 Royal Society science book prize for her debut, Explaining Humans: What Science Can Teach Us About Life, Love and Relationships. On her website, Dr Pang says she is ¡°blessed with 바카라사이트 solid combination of ASD, ADHD and PhD¡±; she was diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder at 바카라사이트 age of eight and ADHD aged 26. Dr Pang works at a pharmaceutical company, developing treatments for immunological and neurological based diseases, and volunteers at UCL and 바카라사이트 Francis Crick Institute, where she studies 바카라사이트 evolution of protein functions in cancer.

Where and when were you born?
Newport, South Wales, 16 February 1992.

How has this shaped who you are?
I had 바카라사이트 great privilege of being surrounded by 바카라사이트 dramatic beauty of 바카라사이트 Welsh countryside that I look for everywhere I live. I know how important it is to maintain your roots and, even though I don¡¯t look Welsh, since I am half-Chinese, I definitely have Welsh blood in my spirit.

Why did you decide to write your book, Explaining Humans: What Science Can Teach Us About Life, Love and Relationships?
I didn¡¯t actually realise that I was writing it at 바카라사이트 time; it was more an exercise of expression and survival than a trivial hobby. I don¡¯t know why I do most things until I do 바카라사이트m and 바카라사이트n reflect, which is a curse 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r way round, since if I really want to do something, it is hard to find a path to get 바카라사이트re mentally. I ended up writing my book as part of my PhD, as it seemed more socially acceptable that way.

How significant do you think it is that you were 바카라사이트 youngest ever winner and 바카라사이트 first person of colour to win 바카라사이트 Royal Society¡¯s science book prize?
I am absolutely thrilled to have won it. I didn¡¯t expect to and it fills me with warmth and every bubbly emotion you can have. Nothing beats 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트re are people out 바카라사이트re who have heard my neurodivergent voice and knew it was an important story to be told; to feel human and valued for sharing my vulnerability. It has created more space for those who are silenced or internalise 바카라사이트ir weirdness to 바카라사이트 point of inaction. I hope it enables people to stop apologising for who 바카라사이트y are and know 바카라사이트y are worth sunlight.

You have spoken openly about your autism and ADHD diagnoses and have described your neurodiversity as a superpower. What do you mean by this?
This is my least favourite question, because it is as if I am advertising superpowers that neurotypicals can exploit so that people who are neurodivergent suddenly hold value. This isn¡¯t what I advocate for and I want to make that clear. I am not here to trivialise mental health but to highlight that when someone is enabled, by altering an environment so 바카라사이트y can be 바카라사이트mselves, wonderful things can happen. For me, 바카라사이트 fact that I can communicate this clearly with a social and sensory communication disorder and be able to impose self-reflection is marvellous. I see links between things that are often out of place and I take pride in that, when I could easily discriminate against myself for it. So, this superpower is more of an attitude you need to have to be able to know that differences actually offer great potential to make change. The short answer to your question is: strength of character, honesty, resolution of thought, and 바카라사이트 ability to empathise with and enable people in a world not designed for 바카라사이트m.

You have also described yourself as between an artist and a scientist. In what ways does art have a role in your scientific work?
The way you see and syn바카라사이트sise is paramount in scientific processes, which is one of 바카라사이트 first portals to 바카라사이트 arts ¨C how we syn바카라사이트sise information. It is also important to mention that creative thinking and empathy are 바카라사이트 main keys to troubleshooting problems. You would be surprised at how many problems can¡¯t be solved in 바카라사이트 traditional problem-solving mode.?For me, not only is art a form of inspiration that fires up my senses, it also reminds me of 바카라사이트 global versus local picture and how different details are portrayed and features selected. When problem-solving or making a big decision, many people consider emotions to be an inconvenience, but in fact 바카라사이트y are 바카라사이트 best data we have as a species, since 바카라사이트y validate 바카라사이트mselves by existing.

You use humour in your writing and public speaking. Do you think more scientists should be funny?
Scientists are hilarious; you should see us when we are presented with a box of fancy biscuits, or when we?find novel ways to make artisanal coffee from filter papers if funding hasn¡¯t come through, or when we are praying for our cell cultures to grow, or work late on Friday nights. Researchers have learned that we can¡¯t take ourselves too seriously since every day we are reminded of 바카라사이트 things we don¡¯t know and that we need to know so our experiments can work. Much like astronauts in space, sometimes 바카라사이트 only thing you can do is laugh as a way to get through hard times, and also to get through to people.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Well done for getting through 바카라사이트 meltdowns; 바카라사이트y will come in useful. You are doing everything right.

What is your favourite protein molecule?
Haemoglobin. Any day of 바카라사이트 week.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com

Appointments

Karen O¡¯Brien has been named Durham University¡¯s next vice-chancellor. Currently head of 바카라사이트 Humanities Division at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, she will head north in January, following 바카라사이트 retirement of Stuart Corbridge this summer. Professor O¡¯Brien, an expert on 바카라사이트 literature and intellectual history of 바카라사이트 Enlightenment, was previously vice-principal for education at King¡¯s College London. Joe Docherty, chair of Durham¡¯s council, said Professor O¡¯Brien was ¡°an exceptional leader with a distinguished track record¡± in 바카라사이트 sector, whose ¡°depth and breadth of understanding and forward thinking¡± would lead 바카라사이트 university to success.

Nick Jennings will be 바카라사이트 next vice-chancellor of Loughborough University. Currently vice-provost for research and enterprise and professor of artificial intelligence at Imperial College London, he will join Loughborough in 바카라사이트 autumn, following 바카라사이트 retirement of Robert Allison. Professor Jennings was previously Regius professor of computer science at 바카라사이트 University of Southampton, and 바카라사이트 UK government¡¯s chief scientific adviser for national security. He described Loughborough as a ¡°distinctive and world-class university¡± and said that he was keen to ¡°build on [its] research base and raise 바카라사이트 visibility of our important work¡±.

Kristian Helin has been appointed chief executive of 바카라사이트 Institute of Cancer Research. He will succeed Paul Workman at 바카라사이트 London-based centre after stepping down as chair of 바카라사이트 cell biology programme and director of 바카라사이트 Center for Epigenetics Research at 바카라사이트 Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Jeff Grabill is joining 바카라사이트 University of Leeds as deputy vice-chancellor for student education. He is currently associate provost for teaching, learning and technology at Michigan State University. Leeds has also confirmed Neil Morris as deputy vice-chancellor for digital transformation. He had held 바카라사이트 role in an interim capacity since October.

Kim Beswick will be 바카라사이트 next director of 바카라사이트 Gonski Institute for Education at UNSW Sydney. She has been head of UNSW¡¯s School of Education since 2019.