Australia 07
Senior lecturer in human ecology
School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University
Native Language: English
Scientific Field of Enquiry/Research: Human ecology, Health and Environmental impacts

1. How would you describe the project/s you are currently working on to a non-scientist?

2. Where, as a scientist, do you see the creativity in your work and/or life?
Research is bounded by creative imagination of the possible nature of the world, and of the possible ways to investigate. Communicating science requires creative imagination of other's understanding and preconceptions, and creative imagination of strategies to encourage learning.

3. When you embark on research, do you start with a defined goal or does the goal emerge through the process?
Goals emerge through process, but grant applications require defined goals. Creativity is most relevant probably before the grant application and before the work commences.

4. With regard to your research, how would you describe the processes and outcomes in terms of the concepts 'natural' and 'artificial'?

5. Where do you gain inspiration and support for your work? Interest in the work, and the belief that it is worthwhile for others.

6. How are possible applications from your research determined?

7. Do you share a language with other scientists (across cultures)? If so, please describe how this language works.
Almost all research scientists now need to read the scientific literature of their field as published in English. "Scientific English" is a common language for each field and to some extent for science generally, and probably differs from standard English in that words are precisely defined.

8. Does your work encompass or involve a possible benefit (tangible or intangible) to society? If so, how would you describe this benefit to non-scientists?

9. Would you describe your future world view as pessimistic or optimistic? Why?
I think scientists as a group tend to be optimists. I think this arises from some sort of belief that human life can be improved by the wise application of scientific knowledge. Also, I think the method of science encourages us to focus on ideas that work and carry these forward, rather than to worry about ideas that don't work. However, despite this, I must say that the last 50 years have shown that human affairs are not easily changed by science. Despite the great scientific knowledge that has been won, there is still unacceptable levels of avoidable disease, starvation, poverty, environmental destruction and warfare, and public life seems to have become even more concerned with maintaining self interest (by states, political parties, business corporations and individuals) than with any communal interest. So I think it becomes harder to be optimistic.

10. Do you believe you share this future world view with other scientists (in your field) or would you describe this view as personal?
I think this is to a large extent a shared perspective among my colleagues.