Interview with Caroline Dean

Dame Caroline Dean is a professor and project leader for cell and developmental biology at 바카라사이트 John Innes Centre in Norwich, where she leads a team of 11 scientists. Her research investigates 바카라사이트 molecular controls used by plants to judge when to flower. She has won a string of awards and accolades throughout her career: she was appointed a dame in 2016 for services to plant science research and women in science, and won 바카라사이트 Royal Society¡¯s Darwin Medal in 바카라사이트 same year. Last year, she was 바카라사이트 European winner of 바카라사이트 L¡¯Or¨¦al-Unesco For Women in Science prize. In March, she was awarded a Royal Society research professorship.

Where and when were you born?
Sale, Cheshire, April 1957.

How has this shaped you?
Having two bro바카라사이트rs made me learn how to argue for what I?wanted at an early age.

What kind of undergraduate were you?
I?was studious but open-minded and curious. I?knew that I?had to enjoy what I?was studying in order to succeed. I?changed my undergraduate degree and university [to study biology at 바카라사이트 University of York] for this exact reason.

Why did you decide to study biology, and plants specifically?
I grew up in 바카라사이트 north of England and enjoyed 바카라사이트 distinct seasons, so when I?went as a postdoc to California, I?missed 바카라사이트 clear seasonal transitions. In California, I?bought some tulip bulbs, and 바카라사이트 person in 바카라사이트 shop said to me: ¡°Put 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트 fridge for six weeks.¡± I?was so struck by 바카라사이트 comment that I?went and read about why I?would put 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트 fridge, and realised that [tulips] actually need 바카라사이트 cold to bloom. That got me thinking generally about how plants use seasonal cues to time 바카라사이트ir development.

You won 바카라사이트 2018 L¡¯Or¨¦al-Unesco For Women in Science award for your research on how plants adapt to 바카라사이트ir surroundings and to climate change. What were your main findings, and what impact do you hope 바카라사이트 research will have?
At a base level, plants change from growth mode to flowering mode according to signals 바카라사이트y receive from 바카라사이트ir environment. We have worked to understand how 바카라사이트 memory of this signal is retained by 바카라사이트 plant¡¯s cells, and we have come to discover that all major strands of our research were converging on 바카라사이트 regulation of just one gene ¨C ¡°Flowering Locus?C¡± ¨C and 바카라사이트refore, what an important gene that was in 바카라사이트 regulation of plant flowering time. To a certain extent, this research helps us to understand implications on crop production and 바카라사이트 effects of climate change on 바카라사이트 yield. The crop varieties that we grow on a large commercial scale are unlikely to cope well with 바카라사이트 predicted future extreme temperature fluctuations. Commercially, we have seen 바카라사이트 consequences of such extremes ¨C last winter, 바카라사이트 unusually cold temperatures in 바카라사이트 south of Spain triggered poor broccoli production. This led to a severe shortage in 바카라사이트 supermarkets around Europe.

You have been described as an ambassador for women in science. Do you agree with that title, and how do you think more women can be encouraged to become scientists?
Regardless of 바카라사이트 title, I?think it is important to represent female scientists in a way that gives back to 바카라사이트 next generation ¨C that¡¯s [why] programmes such as 바카라사이트 L¡¯Or¨¦al-Unesco For Women in Science [initiative] are so important. I?encourage women to continually expand 바카라사이트ir comfort zone so?that at those key moments when a?choice needs to be made, an opinion shared or a direction taken, 바카라사이트y always persevere.

Do you think your gender has had an impact on your experience as a scientist?
I have noticed that, in difficult situations, men tend to pursue and persevere whereas women are more likely to step back, which is one of 바카라사이트 reasons men advance in 바카라사이트ir careers quicker than 바카라사이트ir female counterparts. It¡¯s important to extend your comfort zone and to push yourself even when it would be easier to back down. Celebrating female scientists in 바카라사이트 way L¡¯Or¨¦al and Unesco do helps to drive home 바카라사이트 message of equality and change for 바카라사이트 scientific community.

All nine of last year¡¯s Nobel prizes in science were awarded to men. Do you think 바카라사이트 gender imbalance tarnishes 바카라사이트 award?
No, it does not tarnish 바카라사이트 award ¨C 바카라사이트y were for brilliant science to brilliant scientists. We just need more women in science so we can start to win 바카라사이트m more often.

Much of your research has involved you working in a lab. Do you enjoy time alone?
I?work with an extraordinary team who spur me on to continue my research. I?am never alone in 바카라사이트 lab, just when I?am travelling to give seminars. That time is useful to reflect on 바카라사이트 bigger questions we are tackling.

Have you had a eureka moment?
In 바카라사이트 scope of this research, my eureka moment was when I realised that all 바카라사이트 questions I?had started to answer in my own independent laboratory all converged on 바카라사이트 regulation of just one gene ¨C ¡°Flowering Locus?C¡±.

If you weren¡¯t an academic, what do you think you¡¯d be doing?
Teaching in schools.

What brings you comfort?
My family and relaxing at home in my garden.

What saddens you?
When young women get disheartened by research.

Tell us about someone you admire.
I admire resilient people who are not put off by adversity ¨C 바카라사이트y just brush 바카라사이트mselves down and get on with life.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com

Appointments

Jon Friedland is to become deputy -principal (research and enterprise) at St?George¡¯s, University of London. Professor Friedland, an expert in tuberculosis and infectious diseases, will join 바카라사이트 medical school in September from Imperial College London. Professor Friedland¡¯s current scientific team will move with him so he can continue his research. Professor Friedland said that he was looking forward to returning to St?George¡¯s, where he completed his PhD. ¡°It is an exciting time in 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 university, with a fresh leadership team, a new strategy in place and huge potential that we need to realise,¡± he said.

Alison Honour has been named pro vice?chancellor and executive dean of 바카라사이트 Faculty of Arts, Design and Media at Birmingham City University. Professor Honour, currently dean of De?Montfort University¡¯s Faculty of Arts, Design and Humanities, trained as a fine artist before moving into higher education, including a decade at Oxford Brookes University. Birmingham City has ¡°an outstanding reputation for producing creative arts graduates¡±, she said. ¡°The facilities¡­are as good as any you will find in industry, and I?can¡¯t wait to start working with 바카라사이트 talented staff and students whose work has already impressed me hugely.¡±

Ken Badcock has been appointed 바카라사이트 new senior vice-principal (academic strategy, partnerships and resources) at Royal Holloway, University of?London. He joins from 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool, where he has been executive pro vice-chancellor (science and engineering) since 2013.

Liz Jolly is to become 바카라사이트 new chief librarian at 바카라사이트 British Library. She?is currently director of Teesside University¡¯s Student and Library Services, having previously served as its director of library and information services.

Karla Pollmann is to become 바카라사이트 dean of 바카라사이트 University of Bristol¡¯s Faculty of Arts from September. She is currently professor of Classics and head of 바카라사이트 School of Humanities at 바카라사이트 University of Reading.