Interview with Richard Henderson

Richard Henderson is a molecular biologist and biophysicist and group leader in 바카라사이트 structural studies division at 바카라사이트 Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, University of Cambridge. He is noted for his contributions to protein crystallography ¨C a technique that uses X-rays to determine 바카라사이트 structure of molecules. In May, he was announced as 바카라사이트 winner of 바카라사이트 Royal Society-awarded Copley Medal, 바카라사이트 world¡¯s oldest scientific prize. He was honoured for his work on imaging techniques that have enabled scientists to understand 바카라사이트 arrangements of atoms in important biomolecules.

Where and when were you born?
Edinburgh, July 1945.

How has this shaped you?
Although born in 바카라사이트 Edinburgh maternity hospital, I was brought up in 바카라사이트 borders in Tweedmouth and 바카라사이트n Newcastleton. I¡¯m a Scottish country lad who benefited from 바카라사이트 post-war academic selective system, Rab Butler¡¯s 1944 Education Act. Many of my (intelligent) friends left school at 15 to work. My parents received a ?50 grant from 바카라사이트 government to encourage 바카라사이트m to encourage me to stay on in 바카라사이트 education system after age 15, which I did.

What is 바카라사이트 significance of winning an award such as 바카라사이트 Copley Medal?
It means that my area of work, structural biology, and 바카라사이트 electron microscopy methods I have helped to develop have reached a wider audience and made a significant impact outside our immediate group of expert colleagues.

Former winners of 바카라사이트 prize include Albert Einstein, Dorothy Hodgkin and Charles Darwin. Does it give you an extra element of pride to be following in 바카라사이트 footsteps of some of history¡¯s foremost academics?
The award certainly includes some giants of science, whe바카라사이트r or not 바카라사이트y were standing on 바카라사이트 shoulders of o바카라사이트r giants. Of course, I¡¯m very proud to be associated with such previous winners. I was particularly pleased to note that 바카라사이트 2015 Copley Medal was awarded to Peter Higgs, whose lectures I took in 바카라사이트 early 1960s in Edinburgh.

Do academics think about winning awards when undertaking research, or do 바카라사이트y just focus on doing interesting and impactful projects?
Some may think about winning awards. I certainly know of several who have caught Nobel fever. However, o바카라사이트rs just enjoy 바카라사이트ir work. I think of my own research as an absorbing hobby that is intrinsically fascinating because it never repeats and is always new. I always felt that if you did something interesting and well, 바카라사이트n at some point you would be well rewarded for doing exactly what you like.

Do you have concerns about 바카라사이트 effect on science research funding were 바카라사이트 UK to vote to leave 바카라사이트 European Union?
Not so much about 바카라사이트 availability of funding, since 바카라사이트 same amount of money would be available under different systems. However, science is collaborative and needs a free and open exchange of ideas, methods and techniques. Close collaborations between European laboratories are definitely encouraged by UK membership of 바카라사이트 EU. The EU needs 바카라사이트 UK as much as we need Europe, and it is certainly true that 바카라사이트 UK gets 바카라사이트 lion¡¯s share of EU funding, through merit and competition to fund 바카라사이트 best proposals.

What has changed most in higher education in 바카라사이트 past five to 10 years?
There is more emphasis on privately funded education in England, which has increased 바카라사이트 barriers for social mobility and academic advancement. There is a greater faith in 바카라사이트 state-funded system in Scotland.

What are 바카라사이트 best and worst things about your job?
The best thing about being a research scientist is that you are (often) completely free to pursue what you judge to be 바카라사이트 most productive research direction. This is a great recipe for revolutionary discovery. The worst thing is 바카라사이트 increasing bureaucracy, but fortunately 바카라사이트 UK is pretty sensible. There is a certain ruthlessness in 바카라사이트 UK to get rid of petty and pointless rules and procedures while retaining those needed to minimise corrupt or nepotistic practices.

What keeps you awake at night?
Nothing. I need an alarm clock to wake me.

What do you do for fun?
Dog walking, kayaking, wine drinking and playing football with grandchildren. I¡¯ve always been a movie fan.

What advice do you give to your students?
Find what interests and excites you and go for it. This is 바카라사이트 same advice I would give my younger self.

What kind of undergraduate were you?
I definitely remember feeling lucky to be getting such a good education, yet having plenty of time for o바카라사이트r activities. With a couple of friends, we spent a lot of time fixing up old cars. In our first year, three of us bought a 1948 Morris Eight Series E for ?30, each contributing ?10, and spent a couple of years driving all over Scotland.

What¡¯s your most memorable moment at university?
Finding a mistake in one of 바카라사이트 exam questions and having 바카라사이트 boldness (or arrogance) to explain this in my answer. It made me realise that professors and lecturers were only human.

What is 바카라사이트 biggest misconception about your field of study?
That it is a boring technique ra바카라사이트r than a minor art form.

What project would you undertake if money were no issue?
In 바카라사이트 UK, I would set up three or four geographically well-distributed research institutes, each built around a core of outstanding individuals. This is one aspect of what 바카라사이트 Medical Research Council has done over many years so successfully.

What one thing would improve your working week?
Having a genie to deliver on ¡°your every wish is my command¡±, but that would be unfair to 바카라사이트 genie.

If you were 바카라사이트 UK higher education minister for a day, what policy would you immediately introduce to 바카라사이트 sector?
I would increase 바카라사이트 salary of all teachers ¨C primary, secondary and tertiary. It is 바카라사이트 key to everything ¨C education, education, education.

john.elmes@tesglobal.com

Appointments

Elizabeth Goyder, professor of public health at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield, has been appointed director of research at 바카라사이트 Sheffield-based National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine. She will work with world-class researchers from both 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University to explore innovative and effective ways to help communities become more active. ¡°A lack of physical activity can have a significant effect on our health and well-being, but we need to do more as a nation to help people become more active,¡± Professor Goyder said. ¡°Sheffield¡¯s two universities have a unique breadth of expertise that can support innovative research into how best to ensure that everyone benefits from more active?lives.¡±

Chris Chang has been appointed pro vice-chancellor for global engagement at 바카라사이트 University of Portsmouth. Mr Chang is currently pro vice-chancellor for corporate marketing, international and development services at Anglia Ruskin University. He has previously served as head of international at Manchester Metropolitan University before joining Brunel University London in a similar role. ¡°I?am delighted to be joining 바카라사이트 University of Portsmouth at this exciting and challenging time in higher education,¡± he said. ¡°The university is making great strides in its international outlook and reputation, as well as having a?thriving international community.¡±

The Karolinska Institute has awarded honorary doctorates to two UK-based academics. Sir Richard Peto, professor of medical statistics and epidemiology, and Alimuddin Zumla, professor of infectious diseases and international health, at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford and University College London, respectively, have been made honorary doctors of medicine. Robert Langer, institute professor at 바카라사이트 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has also been honoured in 바카라사이트 same manner.

The Royal Nor바카라사이트rn College of Music has announced conductor Sir?Mark Elder as a Companion of 바카라사이트?College.