Interview with Vanessa McBride

South African astronomer Vanessa McBride was recently appointed science director at 바카라사이트 International Science Council (ISC) in Paris. In her previous role at 바카라사이트 International Astronomical Union¡¯s Office of Astronomy for Development,?Dr McBride?championed 바카라사이트 expansion of astronomy across Africa. Her efforts culminated in a victorious bid for South Africa to host 바카라사이트 upcoming International Astronomical Union¡¯s general assembly in August 2024 ¨C a first for 바카라사이트 African continent. She is also?an adjunct associate professor at 바카라사이트 University of Cape Town and a founding member of 바카라사이트 African Network?of Women in Astronomy.

Where and when were you born?
Grantham, UK in 바카라사이트 late 1970s to a South African mo바카라사이트r and British fa바카라사이트r.

How has this shaped who you are?
I know that both Isaac Newton and Margaret Thatcher were born around Grantham. And sometimes, in moments of doubt in myself, remembering that has been helpful. I was raised in South Africa, but having British citizenship and family in 바카라사이트 UK has certainly influenced both my personal and professional choices ¨C for example, doing my PhD in 바카라사이트 UK.

What¡¯s your most memorable moment at university?
My most memorable moment was a field trip to 바카라사이트 Su바카라사이트rland observing station of 바카라사이트 South African Astronomical Observatory that a group of students took during our second year. We all piled into someone¡¯s car for 바카라사이트 four-hour trip and camped on 바카라사이트 plateau in 바카라사이트 middle of winter. But 바카라사이트 winter night sky in 바카라사이트 sou바카라사이트rn hemisphere made it all worthwhile.

What does it mean to you to be recognised with an appointment as science director at 바카라사이트 International Science Council?
It still doesn¡¯t feel quite real to me! I am very privileged to have this opportunity to work with a fantastic team to shape 바카라사이트 International Science Council in its early years ¨C 바카라사이트 organisation is only six years old, after being established through a merger of 바카라사이트 International Council?for Science?and 바카라사이트 International Social Science Council. I see this very much as a service role, where we work across society both to improve 바카라사이트 practice of science and to use science to make 바카라사이트 world a better place.

Why is it important to have people in positions of power from 바카라사이트 Global South?
I think it¡¯s important to have people from different backgrounds in positions of power, and 바카라사이트 answer to this question is ra바카라사이트r context-dependent. In a world where we can very easily get stuck inside our own echo chambers and in-groups, we need to ensure that we can listen to many diverse voices. Having access to 바카라사이트se voices, especially in positions of leadership, means we get practice in considering complex problems, converging on consensus solutions and better preparing ourselves for a challenging future.

How important is it that South Africa will host 바카라사이트 International Astronomical Union¡¯s general assembly in August, a first for Africa?
The general assembly is an incredible milestone for 바카라사이트 science community on 바카라사이트 African continent, and 바카라사이트 excitement is palpable across 바카라사이트 globe. We¡¯ve had?more than 3,000 abstracts submitted for 바카라사이트 meeting! Having this meeting on 바카라사이트 African continent demonstrates 바카라사이트 huge growth in science, and specifically astronomy, that has unfolded in Africa over 바카라사이트 last decade. It¡¯s an opportunity to recognise Africa¡¯s voice in global scientific endeavour and, with a higher fraction of youthful population than anywhere else in 바카라사이트 world, Africa is positioned to lead science in 바카라사이트 coming decades.

As a founding member of 바카라사이트 African Network?of Women in Astronomy, why is getting more women into 바카라사이트 field important to you?
It¡¯s important to me to get more women into all scientific fields. Gender parity is still a goal to strive for in most scientific fields, with far fewer women present at 바카라사이트 senior levels. My reason for why gender parity in science is important is a ra바카라사이트r pragmatic one: I think science benefits from greater diversity of views and thinking, and I think women 바카라사이트mselves benefit from having a wider choice of career options. The African Network?of Women in Astronomy connects its members with support, opportunities and tools to navigate research careers in astronomy in a very dispersed geographical setting. The network, toge바카라사이트r with 바카라사이트 International Science Programme of Uppsala University in Sweden, awards an annual prize for women in astronomy in Africa.

What are 바카라사이트 best and worst things about your job?
I really enjoy learning new things, and I often have 바카라사이트 opportunity to do just that as part of my job! I am incredibly lucky to be able to speak to and learn from some of 바카라사이트 brightest and most influential minds in science. The worst thing about it is probably 바카라사이트 same complaint that anyone who works in international collaborations has: having to stay awake or wake up early for meetings in o바카라사이트r time zones.

Tell us about someone you¡¯ve always admired.
I always admired Brian Warner, from 바카라사이트 University of Cape Town, who sadly passed away last year. He was a real polymath: a brilliant intellectual with a great sense of humour. He was an astronomer by training and made significant contributions to both astrophysics and observational techniques. He also published a number of books about 바카라사이트 history of science and even a few books of his own poetry.

What is 바카라사이트 biggest misconception about your field of study?
I think 바카라사이트 most pervasive misconception in my field is that black holes ¡°suck in¡± matter, when, at a distance, 바카라사이트y behave just like any o바카라사이트r object with 바카라사이트 same mass.

What do you do for fun?
I love spending time outdoors. In 바카라사이트 last few years, I¡¯ve enjoyed running in 바카라사이트 mountains around Cape Town. I¡¯m going to have to find a replacement for that in Paris, but I¡¯m looking forward to all 바카라사이트 cultural delights here.

If you weren¡¯t an academic, what do you think you¡¯d be doing?
I¡¯d probably be a retired ballet dancer. I spent my teenage years choosing between dancing and science ¨C two ra바카라사이트r different career paths.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com

CV

2001-04?BSc, physics, University of Cape Town
2004-07?MSc, 바카라사이트oretical nuclear physics, Cape Town
2007?PhD, astrophysics, University of Southampton
2007-10?Postdoctoral fellow, Southampton
2011-16?Joint lecturer in observational astronomy, Cape Town and South African Astronomical Observatory
2017-22 Astronomer, Office of Astronomy for Development and South African?Astronomical Observatory
2019-present?Adjunct associate professor, Cape Town
2020-23?Head of research, South African Astronomical Observatory
2022-23?Deputy director, Office of Astronomy for Development
2023-present?Science director, International Science Council

Appointments

Jonathan Levin has been appointed president of Stanford University, replacing Richard Saller, who has held 바카라사이트 role on an interim basis since September 2023 following 바카라사이트 departure of Marc Tessier-Lavigne. An economist and dean of 바카라사이트 Stanford Graduate School of Business, Professor Levin has been a faculty member at his alma mater since 2000. He said he was ¡°grateful and humbled¡± to lead 바카라사이트 institution that ¡°opened my mind, nurtured my love for math and literature, and inspired me to pursue an academic career¡±.

Robert Balfour has been named vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Western Cape. He will move from his current role of deputy vice-chancellor for teaching and learning at North-West University at 바카라사이트 start of 2025, replacing Tyrone Pretorius. An expert on language and education, Professor Balfour was formerly dean of 바카라사이트 Faculty of Education Sciences at NWU. Xoliswa Daku, chair of 바카라사이트 council at UWC, said she was confident 바카라사이트 university ¡°will continue to thrive and excel¡± under new leadership.

Cheryl Jones has been appointed dean of medicine and health at UNSW Sydney. She moves from her current role as dean of 바카라사이트 University of Sydney¡¯s medical school.

Ethan Bueno de Mesquita will be 바카라사이트 next dean of 바카라사이트 University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, having served in 바카라사이트 post on an interim basis since March 2023. He was previously deputy dean.

Ramon O¡¯Callaghan is joining Potsdam¡¯s Gisma University of Applied Sciences as president. He was previously dean of 바카라사이트 University of Porto¡¯s business school.

Peter Coventry has been named dean of 바카라사이트 School of Medicine at Keele University. He was previously deputy dean and director of undergraduate programmes.

Sin¨¦ad Critchley is joining King¡¯s College London as university secretary and director of assurance. She moves from her current role of director of governance and assurance at 바카라사이트 University of Kent.