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David K Smith Profile picture
@professor_dave
Sep 24, 2020 • 5 tweets • 1 min read • Read on X
I did my post-doc with Francois Diederich in Zurich. 68 is really too young. He was an inspiration to me in many ways.
A brilliant insightful physical organic chemist, his team made marvellous molecules to probe fundamental interactions. He became fascinated with applying supramolecular principles in medicinal chemistry - it really inspired me to try & solve real-world problems with my chemistry.
Every year at the Christmas party, he talked with passion about chemistry & his pride in the group. Except the year he took his teenage son on sabbatical to Israel. The usual chemistry lecture was dropped and he shared photos & stories of the quality time he'd spent with his son.
Just over a year ago was his retirement symposium in Zurich, and tragically I could not attend because my husband had just passed away. He still took the time to reach out to me. And now he is gone as well.
A brilliant scientist with an incisive mind - driven to solve problems - but maintaining his humanity. He will be missed.

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More from @professor_dave

David K Smith Profile picture
Nov 11
Timely to highlight the life and work of Ben Barres.
Ben was a remarkable biologist who transformed our understanding of brain function. Born in 1954, he transitioned from female to male in the late 1990s. Image
In his research, Ben and his team gained an understanding of glial cells, and importantly showed that astrocytes could damage the brain - an important breakthrough in terms of understanding a variety of neurodegenerative disorders. Image
Ben wrote eloquently about the process of transitioning, reflecting: “I am not aware of a single adverse thing that happened to me as a result of my being transgender, but there was immediate relief of all emotional pain as a result of my transition.”
thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/the-coming-out…
Read 9 tweets
David K Smith Profile picture
Nov 10
It's timely to highlight the life & work of computer scientist Lynn Conway.
In the late 1960s, she transitioned from male to female and was sacked by IBM as a result. For some years, she went underground and, for the rest of her career, worked as a woman - herstory unknown. Image
Under the legislation of the 1960s, Lynn was denied all access to the children she had previously had with her wife.
Lynn went abroad for her surgery, all alone. She had lost not only her career and professional reputation but also her family, relatives, friends, and colleagues.
In the late 1970s, working (in her words) in 'stealth mode' as a woman, Lynn developed very large scale integration (VLSI) of computer components, a key breakthrough in computer science, which enabled the modern computer and ultimately put smartphones in everyone's pocket. Image
Read 10 tweets
David K Smith Profile picture
Oct 21
On autism/ADHD & behaviour.
Over the weekend, I have read lots blaming autistic children for their behaviour, or suggesting poor parenting is to blame.
Autism & ADHD are *disabilities* that can impact on behaviour - to fail to understand this is simple disability discrimination.
When neurodivergent children are dysregulated, and in a bad environment, they can struggle to behave.
This is an inherent part of their disability.
You cannot 'make' them behave by shouting at them, in the same way you cannot make a blind person see by yelling in their face.
Schools cannot 'make' neurodivergent pupils behave by giving them a suspension - you wouldn't expect someone in a wheelchair to start walking because you sent them home for a week. Autism can be just as disabling.
The way to address it is to build an inclusive environment.
Read 9 tweets
David K Smith Profile picture
Jun 7, 2023
In 2018, trans rights were broadly accepted - even Theresa May proposed legislation to treat trans people with dignity. In 5 years, Stock, Bindel, Rowling, et al, have created a toxic environment where trans people are demonised and fear for their safety. That's their legacy.
This Pride, all I read, is hateful & degrading rhetoric against trans people. Although gender critical people have the right to believe what they want about sex, that does not give them carte blanche to abuse trans people or discriminate against them in the provision of services.
I urge people to meet real trans and non-binary people, talk to them, understand them as individuals. Phobias feed on 'othering' people - once you count someone as a friend, phobias melt away. We are all human - this Pride can we try and see others as human.
Read 5 tweets
David K Smith Profile picture
May 1, 2023
Bempton Cliffs - Seabird City. England's best onshore seabird colony. Didn't get lucky with puffins today, they are mostly egg-sitting in their burrows, but the gannets and razorbills were great.
@Bempton_Cliffs ImageImageImage
Followed by North Landing, Flamborough. @YorksWildlife ImageImageImage
Where my highlight bird was actually a kestrel hovering and hunting the shoreline scrub (failed to get a good photo though). ImageImage
Read 4 tweets
David K Smith Profile picture
Apr 30, 2023
29 scientists write about 'merit' in science and use this figure to 'measure' it. First, I should emphasise we all want great science. Also, merit is not opposed to diversity as the authors suggest - noone wants bad science. The problem is those axes...
journalofcontroversialideas.org/article/3/1/236 Image
Who decides importance?
Is it scientists who go to conferences with buddies and set agendas?
Is it editors based on what gets cited?
Is it rich governments deciding national priorities?
Is it disadvantaged citizens in developing world?
All have different views and priorities.
When we get down to individual levels, and recognising scientists, should we consider resources used? Is it more meritorious to develop a new chemical reaction with a team of 60 and huge national funding, or a team of 2 and a little local support? Simple measures ignore context.
Read 14 tweets

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