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April 26th, 2008

People power

Abstract:
Duncan Graham tells Nina Notman just how important people are for the future of science.

Who or what inspired you to become a scientist?

It was the DNA double helix that inspired me to become a scientist. First I heard about DNA and the story involved in it, and then I was shown the film 'Race for the Double Helix' by my biology teacher in 5th year at school, and I thought 'I want to do science.'

What is the secret to running a successful research group?

What I try to do is allow students and postdocs to do their own decision making and empower them in terms of their research direction as opposed to dictating to them. I don't think that dictation works. If you give students and postdocs responsibility and enthuse them about what they are doing then they contribute a lot more than they would otherwise and they really get into it.

You are the director of the Centre for Molecular Nanometrology at the University of Strathclyde. Can you explain what nanometrology is?

It is the measurement of very small things on a very small scale. It is using molecules and chemistry to develop new methods of measurement on the nanoscale, preferably in living systems.

Source:
rsc.org

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