JD Bernal Lecture 2017; with Professor Dame Anne Glover FRS FRSE

JD Bernal Lecture 2017; with Professor Dame Anne Glover FRS FRSE

JD Bernal was Professor of Physics at Birkbeck from 1938 and became Chair of Crystallography in 1963. Since 1968, when Professor Bernal retired from this college, we have sponsored an annual lecture in his memory.

Speaker: Professor Dame Anne Glover FRS FRSE, Vice-Principal External Affairs & Dean for Europe, University of Aberdeen

Why Evidence can be your best friend

The public purse pays for the vast majority of our research and we generate huge amounts of knowledge. Yet we are not very sophisticated in ensuring that citizens get the maximum value from the investment they make in us. We need to be very communicative about the knowledge we produce and we also have a responsibility in ensuring that the evidence is not distorted or misrepresented. This talk will relate a personal journey from researcher and University academic into the world of policy and politics and the rewards and surprises along the way.

Date: Wednesday 15 November 2017

Venue: B01, Clore Management Centre, London WC1E 7HX

16:30 Doors open for guests to be seated

17.00 Welcome from the Master of Birkbeck, Prof David Latchman

17.05 Prof Anne Glover delivers the 2017 Bernal lecture

18.00 Prof Gabriel Waksman to give vote of thanks

18:05 Drinks reception begins

19.00 Drinks reception ends

Biography for Professor Dame Anne Glover FRS FRSE

Anne has a BSc in Biochemistry from Edinburgh and a PhD in Molecular Microbiology from Cambridge. She has pursued a career in scientific research at Aberdeen University and her research has been varied including studying how proteins are directed to the correct location within our cells, the diversity and function of the microbial population in soil, the development of biological sensors (biosensors) to detect environmental pollution and more recently, how we respond to stress at the molecular level. This current area of research has particular relevance to how we age (our cells are under stress in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease) and also how we respond to artificial stresses such as chemotherapy. She has also commercialised some of her biosensor technology into a successful company which diagnoses environmental pollution and provides solutions for its clean-up.

In 2008 she was made a Woman of Outstanding Achievement in Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) and has worked hard to raise the profile of women in SET and to ensure that not only are women are recruited into careers in SET but that they are supported to remain in the profession during their careers. Anne has promoted the communication of science and has appeared on BBC and international television and many global radio programmes. In 2009, she was awarded a CBE by the Queen in recognition of her services to environmental sciences. She is an elected fellow of the Royal Society and the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Anne was the first Chief Scientific Adviser to the President of the European Commission (2012-2015). Prior to that, she was the first Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland (2006-2011). In both positions Anne transformed the way science, engineering and technology were used and discussed within government and developed strategic initiatives to bridge the gap between science and policy. She has also been a very effective and well respected ambassador for European science. She is currently Vice Principal for External Affairs and Dean for Europe at the University of Aberdeen.

Professor Glover became a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to Science in the UK and Europe in the 2015 Queen’s Birthday Honours List