The WISE Interview
GAIL McCONNELL
Gail McConnell BSc(Hons) PhD CPhys MInstP is a Research Councils United Kingdom Academic Fellow. She leads a research group at the Centre for Biophotonics at the University of Strathclyde.
Did you always want to be a scientist?
Well, I didn’t know what science was until I was 11! Then one day in class we were each given a tomato and asked to cut it open and draw what we saw. Afterwards, the teacher said: “That’s science!”, and I thought: “That was fun, I like drawing!” Years later that same enjoyment was a major motivation for my choosing to do a physics degree.
So what subjects did you study at school?
It was a choice between languages and sciences – I was really equally interested in both of them. But at the last gasp, science won out over French and German because, thinking about it, science seemed to be a much more vocational choice.
I crashed Higher Maths, but went on to choose physics and engineering courses, again because I could see that these would be the subjects that would lead to a good future career for me.
Did you have strong role models or mentors who influenced your choices?
I had a hugely inspirational physics teacher at school, without whom I don’t think I would have gone down this path. His enthusiasm was infectious and he showed us that it was possible to be a little bit geeky and still have all this fun. He opened up the possibilities of science for us and was very encouraging of everyone in the class, regardless of their background or gender (we were about 25% girls to 75% boys) - in fact, I think he positively enjoyed the mix. I am still in touch with him today!
Have you faced any particular obstacles along the way because you are a woman scientist?
Nothing significant that couldn’t be laughed off. I remember someone telling me: “You’ll have to work twice as hard (as the men)!” Now that isn’t necessarily true, and in my case I chose to use that as a driver to succeed.
But I do sometimes think it is more the suggestions made by people assuming you will face obstacles because you are female rather than what is really there that can cause girls to lose confidence. Then there are all the things that women supposedly tend to be naturally good at, such as multi-tasking and communication, both of which are essential to the work I do – so I think we need to keep playing up all our strengths.
Who are your Science Heroines?
I’d have to say they are not historical figures, but all people who have inspired me personally along the way.
You are currently in charge of £4 million of research funding, is that scary?
It was initially terrifying! I learned how to manage that – and my research team – very much on the job. Now I love it - whenever I hear about new funding, I say: “Bring it on!” and will actively seek it out.
How do you see your work affecting the world and peoples’ lives?
Biophotonics is an emerging field – it’s new and exciting and full of possibilities, its worldwide applications are growing. It also brings physicists and biologists together to work, involving as it does life sciences and experiments.
It has clinical and medical applications, so building a laser becomes something that someone really needs, rather than something we are doing just for the sake of it. And as clinical instruments are developed with this new science, it has both a social and an economic impact. Our research plays a vital part in all of that.
You are just about to co-organise your first international conference. Did you ever imagine you would be doing this when you were deciding to keep on with physics at school?
If you had told me then what I would be doing now I would have said: “You’re having a laugh!”
Neither of my parents went to university and when I announced I wanted to go there and study physics the reaction was: “..what are you going to be at the end of it?” However, the analytical and planning skills you need for physics are the basis for so many other fields too – it really is a door-opener. Using my own experience as an example, I work in a cutting-edge field of science, I oversee a great research team, I give lectures, I regularly travel all over Europe and to the US and Australia meeting different people…and I still get to do those great experiments! So stick with physics and maths, you never know where they are going to take you….
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