After the excellent interview with Stephanie Shirley, I have just listened to another mind-blowing episode of The Life Scientific. This time the interviewee was Geoff Palmer, a Jamaican-born Professor of... beer brewing!
In the uneducated-boy-turned-Professor story, what struck me the most was the willingness of a Scottish Professor to take Geoff on as a PhD student because of his background (that she had taken the trouble to thoroughly research). Having overcome so many difficulties and persevered in the face of so many rejections, she thought he had the right psychological make-up to be a good PhD student. In keeping with the fairytale nature of the story, her gamble, of course, payed off immensely! I don't know any personal examples of this kind of judgement, although I can think of many where the opposite call was made. (Think of all the great-quality beers that have not been produced as a consequence!)
I am more and more faced with the realisation that being a good scientist is much, much more than being good at science. It is, like Geoff Parker, being able to shrug or even laugh at stupid comments made towards you; it is not attaching too much importance to poor judgements of yourself made by people who you expect should know better; it is persevering when all university doors seem shut to you.
I googled him afterwards and found that he has the most beautiful, peaceful smile. Maybe that is the reward of working hard not only at the science, but also at the translational skills that enable you to be the best scientist (and person) you can be. There are clearly some lessons to be learned here...
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