50 years ago, to the month – I embarked on my research career as a PhD student at the Paterson Laboratories, the Christie Hospital, Manchester, UK. The best of places! A research institute with very strong links to the Christie hospital. What an experience. A special time in life. I hope it can be even better for those about to start their own research in whatever subject and wherever that may be.

PhD research is about asking questions and discovering something no-one knew before!

It is hard work, and research can be full of disappointments, but this is more than compensated by the JOY OF DISCOVERY!

It will be different in many respects these days of course. The tools back then seem dated now; not just the techniques and lab equipment – but also having to get your thesis typed up on a typewriter (no word processor); having to use Letraset to prepare diagrams or figures.

As for my research results – they were the opposite of my initial hypothesis – but much more interesting because of that!

Research culture was top notch and challenging. International and local. Surrounded by visiting researchers and post-docs. Serious work but lots of lab laughter and banter. Fun social events: some shared with the Christie Hospital, others organised by the PhDs; informal pub chats etc.

Paterson Club: a Friday meeting when you could present your work and field questions from fellow researchers and the director himself Professor Laszlo Lajtha!

Opportunities to present your research at major cancer conferences.

I better stop now because this is a blog and I have far too much to say and stories to tell 😊.

So, to the future: Researcher starting out are full of enthusiasm and potential. They should have opportunities to develop as scientists and personally. This may already be the case. Nevertheless, we have a new generation with much to offer in the world whether they choose a well-trodden path, something completely different or a zig-zag route in their careers.

Best wishes to all!

by Dr Julie Charlesworth 15/9/2026

In August 2016 (10 years ago this month) after the EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF) in Manchester I felt inspired to write a poem about the experience.

Looking back and looking to the future, such gatherings can be immensely valuable! For everyone and personally.

A message for early career researchers (and students, seasoned researchers and other professionals) whether in person, virtually or on-line:

BE CURIOUS, GET OUT THERE, TURN UP!

ESOFs were Europe’s largest interdisciplinary science meetings, covering science, society, business and careers.

What started as an impromptu decision to ‘turn up’ simply out of curiosity in Manchester 2016 lead to so much more. I went on to participate in press conference discussions and generally as a scientist and a science communicator at ESOFs for the next 6 years, Manchester, Toulouse, Trieste, and Leiden. In person at events in 2016 and 2018 and on-line for hybrid at events in 2020 and 2022. With media accreditation I was given access to all the sessions with the freedom to dip in and out in real time, participate in debates and discussions, or catch up later. I am forever grateful for the opportunities presented.

It’s not just about what you learn. It’s also about who you meet and making new connections.

Nobody knows everything. Surprisingly, I learned most from the areas where I was not an expert or had relatively little knowledge. There were opportunities to ponder, discuss and debate new concepts such as Open Science and questions such as Who Owns Space.

THESE TYPES OF INTERDISCIPLINARY FORUMS AND CONFERENCES ARE VERY MUCH ABOUT LOOKING TO THE FUTURE.

I benefitted from a ‘heads up’ for things to come which are here now; notably, the subjects of AI and quantum computing. Frontier science can be fascinating. Over the years I shared my learning and reported on a range of subjects including synthetic biology, the James Webb telescope, AI, quantum computing and other hot topics. It’s great to be there and hear experts from other fields at times of major world happenings (e.g. Brexit, the Covid19 pandemic).

I miss the ESOFs. I do hope there are these types of events that can continue to inspire!

From Manchester for the world. Looking back and looking forward to the future.

BE CURIOUS, GET OUT THERE, TURN UP
Turn up, speak out or quietly observe.
😊

by Dr Julie Charlesworth 26/08/2026

……..

[P.S. A 6-year period well-spent: Building on my own specialisms (in basic research – cancer research and DNA repair; applied research – drug development; clinical research; medical writing and medical affairs) this phase was about broadening my knowledge and experience. (During this period, I also took on work in a new and challenging cross-disciplinary area – population health intervention research PHIR).]

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Further comments:
Missing ESOF and the people I met.
Looking back and looking to the future with stories to tell in different ways.😊.

I was there too. It felt like the right place to be in that moment. I saw the actual partial eclipse in real time using the appropriate glasses at Jodrell Bank. I’m so glad I decided to come along with a friend and be at this very special place to witness such a special astronomical phenomenon. 🌞🌒😊

There are of course much better photos and reports circulating. Just doing my bit and sharing my own experience (12th August 2026).
 
Shout out to Jodrell Bank.
 
Thank you to all the friendly and helpful staff and volunteers.

by Dr Julie Charlesworth 12/08/2026

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World famous. Iconic place.

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Postscript:
Jodrell Bank has an excellent reputation! Sadly, it is facing an uncertain future. People are speaking out and campaigns have been started because the future of Jodrell Bank may be limited and at risk from lack of funding. What a missed opportunity that would be! Reputation is a valuable intangible asset. Here’s to more great science and hope for a glowing future 😊 🌞🤩.
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We could just watch that space (pardon the pun 😉🔭🛰️). For those interested in contributing with a donation or doing something more then the information below may be useful:

Jodrell Bank Visitor Centre & Observatory Address
Location: Bomish Lane, Lower Withington, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 9DW

Academic/Astrophysics Office Address
Location: Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, Alan Turing Building, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9P

For further information: check the Jodrell Bank website and the Manchester University website.

Looking forward to a summer of science with conferences, meetings, research collaborations, and communications. Proud to support many good people out there doing good work with good intentions.

Still finding time to ‘smell the roses’ at home as well.

I penned this little haiku and I took a snapshot of the ‘Ruby Wedding Roses’ in my garden. The roses were a romantic gift from my husband several years ago. With consistency and surprises they burst into bloom in June each year and last the whole summer.

Feeling summery and a bit sentimental this week.

by Dr Julie Charlesworth 08/06/2026

You don’t have to go far to pause and refresh. There again from time to time travelling afar brings new experiences which are not necessarily weather-dependent. Indeed, for me the muted tones in February provide a perfect backdrop to savour the effect of crashing waves.

[A little ‘movie’ I just made from videos I have taken over the years. I visited the Galapagos once in 2004. I am often in France.]

The sea and nature can be powerful and evocative. Sounds, sights, and moments become imprinted in our memories. The senses are stimulated. Sometimes you can still feel or sense the sea spray on the face. Sometimes we need to refresh and clear a clouded head to put things in perspective, be in the present and ponder the future.

This could be a good time to pause to reflect or to go out and get some more of this:
Sea spray – aerosols produced by bubble-bursting caused by high-speed winds over seawater.
Susurration – the sound sea waves make when they reach the shore.
Spindrift – sea spray blown from cresting waves by the wind.

by Dr Julie Charlesworth 11/02/2026

Is October starting to buzz?

Yesss!

It seems a good time to encourage COMMUNICATORS – those we know who have good messages and are doing good things. Otherwise, by staying silent we might inadvertently allow a handful of people to hog the limelight with poor communication and even misinformation or disinformation.

Indeed, let’s talk about the communicators. Professional speakers, medical writers, science communicators, journalists, authors etc.

Specialists and generalists. Academics, researchers, regulators, policy makers, influencers. The well-known and the unsung heroes. Those with other hidden or not so hidden talents. Singers, dancers, poets, humourists, and magicians. There are many ways to share a message and work with purpose.

A message doesn’t need to be loud-voiced to resonate. Better to have messages spoken or written with purpose, meaning, and authenticity.

Here’s to the people who convey or exchange information, news, or ideas, especially those who are eloquent or skilled. Here’s to those aspiring to be great or just better communicators. Those who advocate, demonstrate, and practice continuous learning.

Let’s encourage communicators!

by Dr Julie Charlesworth 16/10/2025

In life generally we should be wary of half-truths. I think this can be especially important in science.

TRUTH. Thinking about truth brings to mind oaths such as ‘I promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.’

HOME TRUTHS – ouch! Some people need to hear these (including ourselves sometimes) and can benefit from listening to feedback. Some feedback hits home whereas some can be dismissed for good reason.

HALF-TRUTHS. ‘In science and in life we must beware half-truths and misplaced trust.’ See the poem I wrote in 2023. It seems timely to share it again here.

TRANSPARENCY. One person’s idea of truth is not necessarily another person’s view. I think it’s best to know why something is considered as truth. For example, some factors and questions to consider:
Evidence-based findings.
Reproducibility of results using the same method of research/study.
Faith or a religious belief.
A hunch or a gut feeling
Told something is ‘common sense’ or so it may seem.
An opinion can be based on any of the above.

I’m interested in facts and feelings, seeking truths through science or sometimes through writing poetry.

by Dr Julie Charlesworth 03/09/2025

I thought ‘This is serious stuff! I needed to know about it.’  It left me ‘gobsmacked’ and feeling compelled to do something.
What could I do?
 
BACKGROUND💡.  It was a Lecture 9th June 2015 The Cockcroft Rutherford Lecture 2015: Dame Sally Davies. The University of Manchester.
Title ‘The Drugs don’t work
A Global threat.’
The subject: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
 
WHAT COULD I DO?
Speak up and communicate to raise awareness and hopefully inspire others. Initially, by writing and publishing my first LinkedIn Article – entitled ’Spread the Words, not Infectious Diseases’. At the same time, I wrote and published the first of several blogs on this subject here on my company website.
 
I also focused on some of my immediate spheres of influence and activity at that time (2015 to 2017) MedComms and Medical Writing groups. A good way to spread the messages through other communicators.
 
Over the past 10 years I have continued to ‘spread the word’ ad hoc sharing information, the science and other good work I came across.
In doing so I continued to learn about and appreciate the values of trans-disciplinary approaches and specialities including basic science, drug development, frontier research with new approaches, and also the importance of public health and policy. You can learn a lot from looking beyond your own specialisms.
 
IMPACT:  It is difficult to say whether I had much (if any) significant impact, but I am hoping so.
 
WHY DO ANYTHING? It was simply about ‘doing the right thing’ or what I thought was the best way I could contribute.
 
10 YEARS ON – SOME KEY MESSAGES:
 
AMR continues to be a major concern!
There have been advances and progress; great work has been done by many people in different spheres – this needs to continue.
 
The important role of universities in informing and inspiring action (beyond undergraduate and post graduate teaching).
 
‘Doing the right thing’ is valid and important.
 
Think ‘what can I do?’

by Dr Julie Charlesworth 21/7/25

 
 
[Here is the link to my first blog on this subject published 10 years ago in the summer of 2015] 

This story starts with an evening drive with a ranger in an open-top, open-sided vehicle in South Africa. Picture this: We came upon 2 lions probably a brother and a sister lying on the road track in front of us. The ranger stopped the vehicle and waited until the couple got up and started on their way. We followed at a cautious pace. It felt like they were leading us somewhere.

The female went ahead of the male and as I turned my gaze to the left, I sensed a presence up in the tree in front – hence I took this snapshot.

Some people in the vehicle wanted us to drive on regardless. My preference was to wait a little while (but for how long?). While the debate continued the lioness decided to jump down in front of the vehicle and continue her walk. But where was the male lion? He was nowhere to be seen.

While our attention had been diverted to the female – he had apparently disappeared. Then suddenly – there he was emerging from the undergrowth to the right on the other side of the road! Did he cross in front or behind the vehicle? No-one knew for sure. Suddenly we felt they were playing a game, and we were part of it. They were calm, confident, and in control. A passing thought was – maybe they were leading us back to the pride. Could it have been an invitation to join them for dinner?

But …. what or rather who would be on the menu?

However, they soon got bored and sauntered off. We all breathed a sigh of relief, and the ranger speeded up the vehicle, turned on to another dirt track and accelerated in a different direction.

After this somewhat scary moment we found some humour in the experience.

For a while there we certainly had not been in charge.

It was their game in their territory!

Maybe the lioness had climbed the tree to check us out – and then she didn’t feel quite that hungry after all 😉.

Or perhaps they just enjoyed playing a trick on us 😂.

by Dr Julie Charlesworth 15/5/25

[Apparently ‘Lions don’t typically attack safari vehicles because they perceive the vehicle and its occupants as one large, solid object rather than distinct, moving individuals.’ An etiquette on safari is that animals are minimally disturbed hence the waiting for the lions to move on]

Science can be spectacular, and I think an area to watch out for in 2025 is Quantum Science and Technology, particularly Quantum Computing.

Quantum Technology is relatively new. It has considerable potential to impact society and the future of sciences. Quantum Computing applies quantum concepts to information and its processing. There appears to be a race on in the field of computing – raising the question of how and when quantum technology will impact businesses.

This is a serious post about some serious science, but my purpose is just to give you the heads up for what may be to come and to stir your curiosity. Please note that on this particular subject I would defer to others more knowledgeable and experienced (some of whom are contacts of mine).

However, I have written about this subject generally a few times before. If you delve into this subject don’t worry if you find it challenging to understand – many of us do (indeed some experts do as well). A feeling of confusion sometimes shows you are learning and at least you are thinking about it.

My first post on this complex subject was in January 2021 ‘A Quantum Leap in my Learning’. It included some metaphors to aid understanding. I am repeating them again because I think they are still helpful in getting to grips with new ways of thinking which may be necessary.

‘Consider the challenge of finding your way out of a very complex maze or labyrinth. With a classical computer you can think of a stepwise process choosing Left or Right until you find the right path. However, with a quantum computer you can explore all paths at once – can be likened to flushing a bucket of water through the labyrinth.’ That explanation was an ‘aha moment’ for me! 💡

Elsewhere, I have heard that it is like ‘being able to read all the books in a library at once’. The speed and scope of this new technology viewed in this way becomes immediately more apparent to me.

Subsequently, during ESOF2022(EuroScience Open Forum) and beyond we were warned to beware the possible hype around this subject. I think this warning still applies. On the other hand, some possibilities which were deemed science fiction in the past may become reality.

On that note, I’ll finish by wishing you well in your exploration of this subject if it is new to you and I hope you found this helpful. Stay curious…

by Dr Julie Charlesworth 27/01/25

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See the following links referred to above.

A Quantum Leap to start 2022.

A quantum leap in my learning

5 things I learned about in 2022, and a quick recap from ESOF2022.