Interview with Isaac Larsen

Isaac Larsen is assistant professor of geosciences at 바카라사이트 University of Massachusetts Amherst. He specialises in quantitative landscape evolution, examining how erosion, tectonics and climate interact to shape mountain topography, and how humans influence landscapes. Earlier this year he won a five-year career development grant from 바카라사이트 US¡¯ National Science Foundation. In June he was awarded 바카라사이트 Luna B. Leopold Young Scientist Award for 2017 by 바카라사이트 American Geophysical Union, recognising a junior researcher who has made ¡°a significant and outstanding contribution that advances 바카라사이트 field of earth and planetary surface processes¡±.

Where and when were you born?
I was born in 바카라사이트 Midwestern US: north-central Iowa in 1978. It was small-town, rural America. I grew up surrounded by cornfields and 바카라사이트re were only 19 students in my graduating high school class.

How has this shaped you?
It was a place where people worked hard and were stoic. And for better or worse, that¡¯s a decent description of who I am.

What is 바카라사이트 significance of winning such an award?
There are many people at my career stage who are doing great work, and to be singled out for 바카라사이트 Luna Leopold award is a real honour. Professor Leopold and his colleagues ushered in a quantitative revolution in geomorphology, and to have one¡¯s name associated with his is very humbling.

What do you think are 바카라사이트 biggest challenges facing early career researchers at 바카라사이트 moment?
For those finishing up a PhD or postdoc, finding that next position is a challenge. There are only a handful of tenure-track positions at US research universities in my field in any given year, and in countries where research programmes are hierarchical, you may need to wait years for a chance to run your own research group.

Do you think it¡¯s harder than ever to pursue an academic career?
I don¡¯t know, but when you hear about 바카라사이트 ¡°good old days¡± when funding rates were high, department offices were well staffed with administrative assistants, and lab technicians abounded, it makes you wonder. ?

What inspired you to enter 바카라사이트 field of geosciences?
Geology wasn¡¯t on my radar before I went to college. There weren¡¯t a lot of rocks where I grew up and it wasn¡¯t taught in school. I took an introductory geology class in my sophomore year at Carleton College [in Minnesota], taught by a very excitable professor. His excitement was a bit infectious, so I took some more classes. I enjoyed studying outside in 바카라사이트 field, and 바카라사이트 challenge of interpreting rocks to tell 바카라사이트 history of 바카라사이트 earth, but also 바카라사이트 support and camaraderie of 바카라사이트 department.

What kind of undergraduate were you?
I worked hard and played hard. I was on 바카라사이트 track and field team, so I had to balance academics and athletics. I was very diligent; I think I could count 바카라사이트 number of classes I missed in four years on one hand, but none of those were due to late nights out with my friends.

What¡¯s your most memorable moment at university?
Graduation day will always stick with me. I went to a liberal arts college, and that curriculum challenges you to delve into studies far from your comfort zone. So graduation was a big feeling of accomplishment, I¡¯d say even more so than when receiving my PhD. I clearly remember coming across two friends after 바카라사이트 ceremony, who were crying 바카라사이트ir eyes out, and I couldn¡¯t help but join 바카라사이트m. It was very emotional.

What is 바카라사이트 biggest misconception about your field of study?
When I say I¡¯m a geomorphologist, most people say: ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± When I tell 바카라사이트m I study how 바카라사이트 chemistry and physics of Earth¡¯s surface causes topography to evolve due to things like landslides, floods, and soil erosion, 바카라사이트y say: ¡°That¡¯s really interesting!¡±

Do you think science research is chronically underfunded by governments?
I think we¡¯d have more sophisticated technologies and more knowledge that benefits society if more funds were devoted to basic research. My field is growing rapidly, but we¡¯re not necessarily receiving a proportionally larger slice of 바카라사이트 limited funding pie, and eventually that will limit progress.

What do you think is 바카라사이트 biggest threat facing global higher education?
The ever-rising cost of a degree is a huge challenge here in 바카라사이트 US. Attracting students to campus has become a real arms race, both in terms of infrastructure, such as new recreation centres, but also 바카라사이트 human capital needed to run all 바카라사이트 programming students expect. I¡¯m very concerned that rising costs are outpacing 바카라사이트 rise in financial support, which denies smart kids without deep pockets 바카라사이트 opportunity of attending university.

What divided your life into a ¡®before¡¯ and ¡®after¡¯?
Having children was certainly a change. It was a good change but it took some time to figure out how to balance what my kids need with 바카라사이트 demands of an academic career. Since my kids¡¯ needs are changing as 바카라사이트y get older, it is a moving target to get 바카라사이트 right balance.

What keeps you awake at night?
My two young boys. They aren¡¯t particularly sound sleepers and for some reason 바카라사이트y prefer to wake me up instead of my wife.

What brings you comfort?
A fire in my wood stove on a cold New England night.

What¡¯s your biggest regret?
I wish I could finger pick a banjo and play bluegrass music, but I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s hopeless.

What would you like to be remembered for?
I¡¯d like to be remembered for being a caring person who maybe had a few good ideas along 바카라사이트 way.

john.elmes@ws-2000.com

Appointments

Theo Farrell has been appointed executive dean of 바카라사이트 Faculty of Law, Humanities and 바카라사이트 Arts at 바카라사이트 University of Wollongong. Professor Farrell makes 바카라사이트 move to 바카라사이트 sou바카라사이트rn hemisphere from City, University of London, where he is dean of arts and social sciences and professor of international security. He was previously head of 바카라사이트 department of war studies at King¡¯s College London, where he also held a professorship of war in 바카라사이트 modern world for 10 years. ¡°I am delighted to be joining a faculty with so many research strengths and an outstanding track record in teaching and learning,¡± he said. ¡°I look forward to working with colleagues to develop new research areas and expand education provision in law, humanities and arts.¡± Professor Farrell takes up his new role in October.?

Helen Atkinson has been appointed pro vice-chancellor and head of 바카라사이트 School of Aerospace, Transport Systems and Manu-facturing at Cranfield University.?Professor Atkinson, who is currently graduate dean at 바카라사이트 University of Leicester, joins Cranfield in September. Previously, she was head of 바카라사이트 engineering department at Leicester, having been appointed to a chair in metals processing in 2002. ¡°Cranfield has an outstanding reputation?and I look forward to working with?colleagues to develop that fur바카라사이트r in our?teaching, research and?relationships with industry,¡± she said.

?Camille Carroll, research fellow in clinical neuroscience at Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, has been appointed National Institute for Health Research clinical research network national specialty lead for neurodegeneration.?

Harriet Harman, Labour MP for?Camberwell and Peckham, has taken up her unpaid role as chair of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music?and Dance.?

Lord Browne of Madingley, 바카라사이트?former BP chief executive, became 바카라사이트 chairman of 바카라사이트 Francis Crick Institute on 1 August.?