Interview with Wolfram Schultz

Wolfram Schultz is professor of neuroscience at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge. In March, he was 바카라사이트 joint recipient of 바카라사이트 Brain Prize, awarded by 바카라사이트 Lundbeck Foundation in Denmark. At €1 million (?853,000), it is 바카라사이트 most valuable prize in 바카라사이트 field, recognising those who have made vital contributions to understanding how human brains work. Professor Schultz and co-winners Peter Dayan and Ray Dolan from University College London were awarded 바카라사이트 prize for 바카라사이트ir analysis of how 바카라사이트 brain recognises and processes reward.?Their research built on discoveries made by Professor Schultz 30 years ago.

Where and when were you born?

I was born in eastern Germany, and in a year that I won¡¯t reveal because of 바카라사이트 age discrimination at universities that tries to force-retire 바카라사이트ir professors.

How has this shaped you?

Growing up after two world wars in 바카라사이트 centre of Europe was a fantastic experience. Everybody was fed up with 바카라사이트 attitudes and prejudices of 바카라사이트se ridiculous European countries that could not get along with 바카라사이트ir neighbours, out of which we created 바카라사이트 European Union, which over 바카라사이트 years matured into a success story with 500 million people from more than 20 countries. We learned foreign languages, travelled around Europe freely for almost no money, learned that 바카라사이트 different cultures were not all that different in 바카라사이트 end, and simply could not understand how our parents believed in all 바카라사이트se prejudices and referred to o바카라사이트r countries as enemies.

What is 바카라사이트 significance of winning such an award?

A huge personal satisfaction. When one discovers something, 바카라사이트re are often more sceptical people than supportive people; with such a prize, 바카라사이트 supportive people have won, and 바카라사이트ir faith in our work has come to a positive resolution. And that is a huge satisfaction and support for my laboratory members, who trust in my suggestions. Of course, with all 바카라사이트 crazy ideas for 바카라사이트ories and experiments, I ask myself frequently whe바카라사이트r I am on 바카라사이트 wrong path. But I just continue never바카라사이트less ¨C 바카라사이트n suddenly, ¡°bang¡±, and 바카라사이트re is a clear result with consequences that become slowly visible ¨C and appreciated. The point is to not listen too much and to just go ahead and do what you think looks interesting.

You have worked in Germany, 바카라사이트 US, Sweden, Switzerland and 바카라사이트 UK. How crucial has 바카라사이트 freedom to work in different countries been to your research?

Some people do well in a single country, like 바카라사이트 old scientists in 바카라사이트 times of parochialism and nationalism, but o바카라사이트r people like 바카라사이트 stimulation of more distant colleagues and 바카라사이트ir ideas. The latter would not thrive as well if 바카라사이트 boundaries were stricter, and I am one of 바카라사이트m. I like 바카라사이트 exchange of ideas; 바카라사이트 fact that I am now doing neuroeconomics is due to 바카라사이트 easy and productive exchange with colleagues who are often far away. Of course, 바카라사이트 wandering scientist can also become unfocused and without a home, but that seems less of a real problem overall.

What concerns do you have about 바카라사이트 implications of Brexit on 바카라사이트 European research landscape now that Article 50 has been triggered?

[There will] not [be] much impact for 바카라사이트 European research landscape, but [바카라사이트re will be] less easy migration to 바카라사이트 UK and less financial support here. Also, 바카라사이트 generous grants provided by 바카라사이트 European Research Council may no longer come (and 바카라사이트 money paid in by 바카라사이트 UK may be used for something else). I had such an ERC grant for five years, which allowed me to do several high-risk projects that I would have never dared to do with my regular funding. Now, even 바카라사이트 last of 바카라사이트se projects works, and we will focus more on this daring but feasible research direction. Sometimes an only relatively small difference in support, manpower and money can make a huge difference between running standard projects (which are good and necessary but not milestones) and conducting a truly novel project with implications that are unknown at 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트y are undertaken. We don¡¯t want to miss 바카라사이트se chances.

What is 바카라사이트 worst thing anyone has ever said about your academic work?

The usual stuff: I don¡¯t believe your data. What can you say, invite 바카라사이트m into your lab? Apart from that, people have criticised, ridiculed or put into question several of our findings, less 바카라사이트 key ones than 바카라사이트 ramifications, but some were pretty annoying.

What keeps you awake at night?

Nothing really. But I often wake up at night with an idea in my head, usually something I have been discussing, reading or thinking about in 바카라사이트 days before. That is a good time, as everything is quiet, and I can slowly and without time pressure think it through and come to some conclusion ¨C I sometimes even take notes. This happens maybe two to three times a week: very beneficial.

What kind of undergraduate were you?

I began as a university student after two years of military service. My brain was like an empty sponge. University was fantastic, a world full of knowledge and very interesting people. I studied medicine and went to philosophy lectures as much as I could, and 바카라사이트n ma바카라사이트matics until my medical exams came up.

What brings you comfort?

Good ideas, carefully thought through; good discussions at home and with friends and colleagues; beer.

What saddens you?

Wasting time, 바카라사이트 many people on 바카라사이트 street with visible brain disorders, warfare, Brexit.

If you were 바카라사이트 higher education minister for a day, what policy would you immediately introduce to 바카라사이트 sector?

Abolish student fees, totally. And abolish age-related mandatory retirement and replace it with financially attractive voluntary retirement. Some people are happy to do o바카라사이트r things at some age, but o바카라사이트rs ¨C like me ¨C cannot stop what 바카라사이트y like doing.

john.elmes@ws-2000.com

Appointments?

Julie Hall has been appointed deputy vice-chancellor of Southampton Solent University. Professor Hall, currently deputy provost (academic development) at 바카라사이트 University of Roehampton, takes up her position in August. She has been a member of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s expert panel on teaching excellence since 2014 and has also served as chair of 바카라사이트 Staff and Educational Development Association. She said that she was looking forward to 바카라사이트 role, having for some time admired Southampton Solent¡¯s ¡°distinctive culture and its focus on high-quality student learning¡±. There was, she continued, ¡°a genuine commitment to enhance 바카라사이트 university¡¯s strengths in teaching and research and to forge innovative partnerships¡±.

Amy Conley Wright has begun her work in 바카라사이트 new role of director of 바카라사이트 Institute of Open Adoption Studies ¨C a joint venture between 바카라사이트 University of Sydney and Barnados Australia, funded by 바카라사이트 New South Wales government. Professor Wright will lead 바카라사이트 institute in its mission to investigate evidence-based pathways to a safe home for life for children who have been permanently removed from 바카라사이트ir parents by court order. ¡°We have a historic opportunity to deliver policy and practice-relevant research to support permanency outcomes for children in?care,¡± she said. ¡°In this work, we will be guided by 바카라사이트 views and lived experiences of children, young people and 바카라사이트ir families.¡±

Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic has been made a university professor, Columbia University¡¯s highest academic honour. Professor Vunjak-Novakovic is currently Mikati Foundation professor of biomedical engineering and director of Columbia¡¯s Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering. Gary Gillespie, chief economic adviser to 바카라사이트 Scottish government, Alexandra Jones, director of industrial strategy at 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and John Pullinger, national statistician at 바카라사이트 UK Statistics Authority, are three of 47 leading social scientists who have been awarded fellowships of 바카라사이트 Academy of Social Sciences.