Duncan Graham
The Power List 2020 – Europe
Distinguished Professor and Head of Department, Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
Greatest inspiration: There are many amazing scientists and people who inspire me but the one person who inspired me to follow my own path and become an academic was Ewen Smith. He really was an inspirational role model and I had the privilege of working closely with him for 12 years in academia. A true gentleman and a great scientist.
Future of the field: I wish I knew! The field has changed so much in the last 10 that to look 20 years forward is beyond my brain’s capacity. But if I had to speculate, I’d think more real-time measurements in all manner of environments including in vivo combined with AI to produce data without the need for interpretation or decision making.
Dinner party guest: Ozzy Osbourne, he sang some amazing songs (I love heavy metal) and he raised some hell. Hearing his stories first hand would be the soft lad’s way of living the metal dream.
Time travel destination: I’d love to go back to the early 1900s. Science and engineering were expanding exponentially and it would have been an amazing time to be around.
Advice to younger self: Don’t be in a hurry to get to the end point and enjoy the journey!
