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| Cynthia Burek
Wrexham, Wales, United Kingdom
Age: 60-69 |
Nominated as:
Nominated by: |
Convener
British Federation |
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| Professional
Field and/or present occupation |
Professor, Geoconservation (2005-date) University of
Chester |
| Experience assessing doctoral and postdoctoral academic research proposals: |
The role of research within the background of the
convenor is paramount in order to understand the process
of research in higher education. My current academic position
fulfills this. My experience in both research and awarding
money in all areas of science is extensive and my dedication
to supporting female researchers is well documented.
At present I am
Convenor of the International Federation of University Women
Fellowship and Awards Committee 2007-2010
Member of the British Federation of Women Graduates Academic
Awards Committee 1999-2007 Convenor of committee 2006-7.
I currently have been appointed (2008- 2011) to the Geological
Society Awards and Medals Committee.
I have also served on the University of Chester research
degrees committee for 3 years 2001-2004. I currently Chair
the Faculty Ethics committee which scrutinizes all research
proposals within the applied science and health faculty
for ethical considerations and viability. At present the
number of proposals stands at over 100 per year.
I currently have 4 PhD students (2 female) and supervised
PhD students in the past as well as research Masters students.
I have over 100 publications at all levels in Earth and
Environmental science as well as history of science and
role of women in science. I have completed a book (2007)
on `The role of women in the history of geology' which is
a first. One chapter is on the role of female role models
in higher education.
In 2009 I published the first paper on The First Female
Fellows of the Geological Society. I also edit peer papers
for various journals when required which are often the outcome
of doctoral and postdoctoral research.
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| Other skills and experience (volunteer and professional) from the last 10 years which qualify you for this position |
I have served on numerous national and international
committees over the past 10 years dealing with research
proposals including GeoConservationUK, Geological Society
of London History of Geology Group and Geoconservation Commission.
At present I am Chair of the Environmental Task Force for
the University 2002- , IFUW member of Environmental network
1991- ,Founder member of the Cheshire region Local Geodiversity
Action Plan Partnership 2002- ,Chair of North East Wales
Regionally Important Geodiversity Sites (NEWRIGS) 1993-
, and nominated and subsequently elected (Jan 2010) Conservation
Officer for the Quaternary Research Association. I thus
help to assess awards moneys for post doctoral research.
I have recently been appointed Chief external examiner for
science and technology for Glyndwr University until 2011.
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| Goals for this position and the contribution you believe you can personally make if elected or appointed |
I am committed to raising female education at all
levels and passionately believe in giving women equal opportunities
at research level. I will pursue this to the best of my
ability. I also believe these are the role models for tomorrow
who will influence policy and decisions. I have 2 daughters
who are both scientists and who have the potential to influence
the generation following them. I think this is sustainable
and will help in producing a more equal division of the
educational benefits of higher education research and education
in general. In a paper I presented to the Geological Society
of London I quoted the African saying "educate a man
and you educate an individual. Educate a woman and you educate
a family." I will endeavour to do this. However education
is not just science but holistic and every discipline must
be judged on its merit. Good research leads to advances
in knowledge across the board and I will endeavour to be
equal across all subjects. My background will help here
as I started in the humanities and then moved to science.
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| How would you promote sponsorship for and donations to the International
Fellowships? |
Today the internet is a primary source of information
for the younger generation. This therefore should be targeted
as a growth area for promoting our international fellowships.
The use of additional search engines, social network sites
and university links should also be used to encourage sponsorship
and indeed donations for our awards. Little has been attempted
in the realms of commercial sponsorship of large multinational
organisations. Here the stress should be on the global aspect
of our work and awards.
Additional targeted audiences for both sponsorship and donations
should be the often neglected philanthropists who often
wish to remain anonymous. This is a difficult area but with
our extensive networks worldwide and the raising awareness
of the importance of female education especially at the
highest level it should be possible.
Legacies should also remain a targeted area
In the present financial climate raising money is difficult
but this should not inhibit our ambition to raise the award's
pot substantially because only by doing this can we remain
sustainable. |
| What do you see as the role of the convener? |
Having served as convenor of the committee for the
last 3 years, I see the role as leading the committee in the
international fellowships and awards area.
The role of the convenor is therefore to lead and listen,
to assert authority when necessary but to be democratic in
approach, to communicate with the rest of IFUW through articles
and reports.
As technology advances the convenor must be open to advances
in approach too.
This past 3 years have been a learning experience using extensive
electronic communication but I feel it has gone extremely
well and saved time and money for the federation. Thus I would
advocate continuing in this vein with perhaps video conferencing
too if possible. It is always easier to speak to a face than
an e-mail.
However the most important role of the convenor is to understand
the research process in higher education, and to appreciate
and enhance the work of IFUW in the supporting this area. |
| Education: |
University
of Leicester BSc 1970 Geology, Geography Archaeology
City University London, MSc 1971, Information Science
University of Leicester PhD 1978, Quaternary Sedimentology
and geology University of Chester, Personal Chair, 2005,
Geoconservation
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| Mother
tongue: |
English |
| Ability
to speak English: |
Excellent |
| Ability
to understand spoken English: |
Excellent |
| Ability
to read English: |
Excellent |
| Ability
to write English: |
Excellent |
| Other
languages: |
School French and Spanish |
| Computer
skills: |
Considerable experience sending e-mail and using the
Internet |
| Internet access: |
Regular access to e-mail at home or the office |
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