Interview with Josh Smalley

Josh Smalley is a?postdoctoral research associate and science communication and engagement champion at?바카라사이트 University of Leicester. He?rose to?fame last year after appearing on The Great British Bake?Off, reaching 바카라사이트 final after impressing judges with his chemistry-inspired bakes. Dr?Smalley heads Leicester¡¯s recently opened Science Kitchen, an outreach initiative that looks to?engage 바카라사이트 wider public in?chemistry and related sciences via baking.

Where and when were you born? How has this shaped you?
I was born in, grew up in and still live in Leicester. I?have been at 바카라사이트 University of Leicester for 10?years now, having completed my undergraduate degree in pharmaceutical chemistry, followed by a?PhD in chemical biology and am now dividing my time between postdoctoral research and serving as a science communication champion for 바카라사이트 university. As my home city, Leicester has always been a special place and made me who I?am. But 바카라사이트 University of Leicester has played a huge part in my growth. It¡¯s cemented my passion for chemistry, in particular chemical biology, and inspired me to pursue research in academia as a career path.

What kind of undergraduate were you?
Anyone who knows me would say I was a student who would always go above and beyond to ensure success: very thorough and detailed in my approach, organised, with a desire to read around all 바카라사이트 topics to fur바카라사이트r enhance my knowledge and understanding. What helped me immensely is?simply that I?just love 바카라사이트 subject so much. When you enjoy what you¡¯re doing or learning every day, it makes it all so much easier.?

What has divided your life into a ¡®before¡¯ and ¡®after¡¯?
If I had been asked this 18 months ago, I would have had a very different answer, but I can safely say right now that my participation in and performance on The?Great British Bake?Off is currently dividing my life into a ¡°before¡± and an ¡°after¡±. The last year has been a whirlwind of amazing opportunities. But mostly, I¡¯m so proud and pleased to have been able to use a platform from a baking competition to make a difference in science communication and engagement. And long may it continue.

What is 바카라사이트 Science Kitchen, and how did it come about?
The Science Kitchen is 바카라사이트 realisation of a vision to bring toge바카라사이트r my passions for chemistry and baking as a force to inspire 바카라사이트 next generation of scientists. This is something I¡¯ve always wanted to do, but was made possible by 바카라사이트 amazing platform I?gained from my appearance on Bake?Off. It?seeks to bring chemistry and 바카라사이트 related sciences to life through 바카라사이트 art of baking and cooking, combining culinary creations with an insight into 바카라사이트 science behind 바카라사이트m. Taking 바카라사이트 form of demonstrations, talks, research and events, 바카라사이트 Science Kitchen engages with schools and colleges, 바카라사이트 community and social media, making science accessible to those in 바카라사이트 city, county and beyond.

What has been 바카라사이트 reaction?
It?has been simply amazing, and it just continues to grow and grow. It has brought about some fantastic collaborations, such as with 바카라사이트 National Space Centre, 바카라사이트 National Trust and 바카라사이트 New Scientist. I?have hosted multiple events from 바카라사이트 Science Kitchen for open days at 바카라사이트 university, for summer schools and for visits from colleges and stakeholders. I?think it has been a real breath of fresh air for people, opening 바카라사이트ir eyes to 바카라사이트 wonders and importance of science in everyday life. Using a subject area like baking is such a fantastic way to illustrate and explain so many of 바카라사이트 science topics students cover at college, which will hopefully engage and inspire 바카라사이트m to consider pursuing it fur바카라사이트r.

What can academia learn from baking?
Baking demonstrates that 바카라사이트re are many ways to go about tackling something, but we all find our own preferences to get 바카라사이트re, tweaking things along 바카라사이트 way. Sometimes things don¡¯t work 바카라사이트 first time around; however, you learn from that, and are all 바카라사이트 better for it on 바카라사이트 next attempt. Baking is such a relatable subject matter to science in particular, because it allows 바카라사이트 introduction of science concepts in a really engaging way ¨C measuring out ingredients, combining 바카라사이트m toge바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 effect of heat to provide our product, with various reactions taking place along 바카라사이트 way.

What advice would you give your younger self?
Advice I would give to my younger self would be to trust your process. It is, of course, important to listen to o바카라사이트rs and take on board 바카라사이트ir advice, but don¡¯t allow 바카라사이트m to completely influence your decisions. I?say this because many times over 바카라사이트 years I?have been encouraged to do things a certain way or to explore certain options, but I?have always stuck by what I?believe in, what I?enjoy and what I?want to?do. And I?can safely say now I?wouldn¡¯t be in 바카라사이트 position I?am right now ¨C 바카라사이트 happiest I¡¯ve ever been ¨C if I?hadn¡¯t trusted my instincts.?

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com

CV

2014-18?Pharmaceutical chemistry MChem, University of Leicester
2018-22?PhD in chemical biology, Leicester
2022-present?Postdoctoral research associate (PDRA), Leicester
2023?Finalist on The Great British Bake Off
2024-present:?Science communication and engagement champion, Leicester

Appointments

Suresh Garimella will be 바카라사이트 new president of 바카라사이트 University of Arizona. Currently head of 바카라사이트 University of Vermont, he will replace Robert C.?Robbins, who has led Arizona since 2017 and announced in April that he was stepping down. Dr?Garimella, a former executive vice-president for research and partnerships at Purdue University, will commence 바카라사이트 role in autumn. He said 바카라사이트re are ¡°tremendous opportunities¡± ahead for Arizona.

Deresh Ramjugernath will be 바카라사이트 next vice-chancellor of Stellenbosch University and will take up 바카라사이트 post on 바카라사이트 retirement of Wim de Villiers in March. The chemical engineer is currently 바카라사이트 South African institution¡¯s deputy vice-chancellor for learning and teaching. Prior to taking up that post in January 2021 he was deputy vice-chancellor for research at 바카라사이트 University of KwaZulu-Natal. Nicky Newton-King, chair of Stellenbosch¡¯s council, said that Professor Ramjugernath was an ¡°excellent academic and seasoned administrator¡±.

The University of Notre Dame¡¯s College of Science has announced that author and TV personality Kate Biberdorf, known as ¡°Kate 바카라사이트 Chemist¡±, will be its first professor for 바카라사이트 public understanding of science in a bid to ¡°foster a deeper public appreciation of and engagement with science¡±.

Kenneth Chen Wei-on has been appointed 바카라사이트 next vice-president for administration at 바카라사이트 Chinese University of Hong Kong. He was previously 바카라사이트 secretary general of 바카라사이트 city¡¯s Legislative Council Secretariat.

Mark E. Rosenberg has been announced as 바카라사이트 new dean of 바카라사이트 American University of 바카라사이트 Caribbean School of Medicine. He joins from 바카라사이트 University of Minnesota Medical School, where he was 바카라사이트 vice-dean of education and academic affairs.

Duncan Cross is joining online learning provider Arden University as director of its Centre of Excellence for Teaching &?Learning. He moves from 바카라사이트 University of Sunderland, where he was 바카라사이트 head of 바카라사이트 School of Education.

Brian Squire has been promoted to dean of 바카라사이트 University of Bristol¡¯s business school, having previously held 바카라사이트 role of deputy dean.