Having reached a significant personal milestone in 2025 I am still here and looking forward to 2026. I am proud to be a septuagenarian! Watch out for consistency and even more surprises to come…

I am a purpose-driven scientist: an expert in life sciences, clinical and health research with interests and experience in life and sciences more generally. You may have noticed I am keen on writing poetry.
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I am proud to know, have known, worked with and supported many talented and interesting people. I do not have to necessarily agree with what they say (although I often do). It is reassuring that there are many decent people out there with good intentions and prepared to speak out despite all the current horrible world events.

‘It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness’

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by Dr Julie Charlesworth 07/01/2026

It can be an emotional time of year. Poetry, light and music can help to lift spirits.

I wrote this haiku to capture my feelings in a moment of peace, reflection, and thought.

Spreading a little comfort and joy, I hope.

by Dr Julie Charlesworth 28/12/2025

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[I filmed the video clip at a sound and light festive event in December 2025; Dunham Massey, UK National Trust]

[I think the music is from Enya The Journey of Angels.]

May this Christmas end the year on a cheerful note and make way for a fresh and bright New Year.

❤️

by Dr Julie Charlesworth 19/12/2025

The run up to Christmas begins. Starting with my message in a verse to bring a smile 😊.

I wrote this poem in 2023 and it seems timely to include it here in this 2025 post. I hope you still like it.

‘It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas’ 🎵🎄🎶. And so it begins…

by Dr Julie Charlesworth 1/12/2025

by Dr Julie Charlesworth 12/11/2025

Why apples? Why now? For playtime why not try an apple bobbing game – perhaps a forgotten seasonal tradition. The aim is for each person to bite an apple from a large bowl of water using only their mouths. I remember playing this as a child. However, historically it had romantic meanings, particularly linked to Halloween and a Celtic festival at the end of Autumn. Original versions involved guessing a person’s romantic future. But it’s just for fun!

On a romantic note, it was this time of year that I first met my husband-to-be in 1978. It was a Halloween party at the Christie Hospital Staff Club. I was a PhD student at the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research (known as the Paterson Labs in those days). I was swept off my feet by a dashing young lawyer (well something like that 😉😂).

On a well-being note, I think I really should eat more apples.

Let’s hear it for the apples 🍎📣.

by Dr Julie Charlesworth 30/10/2025

Further comment: Nowadays there are pumpkins galore and they are lovely🎃. So when did pumpkins become the tradition in the UK? That’s another story. I remember as a child we used large turnips – how hard they were to carve! [A nod there to some Irish heritage and like many a few of my ancestors.]

What a great time to be involved in research and communications! I am thinking particularly of Life Sciences, Clinical and Health Research. These areas are important, exciting, and sometimes surprising. But what kind of research interests you?

BASIC RESEARCH focusing on fundamental knowledge delving into areas where we want to know more or understand better.
APPLIED RESEARCH using knowledge and understanding to develop practical applications, technologies, or interventions.
FRONTIER RESEARCH pursuing new knowledge and discoveries that challenge the boundaries of what is known.

Frontier research is particularly exciting, and it is often in the news these days. However, with new capabilities and potential applications can come questions of ethics. Put simply: Just because we can – doesn’t mean should! There again new knowledge and understanding can lead directly or indirectly to important breakthroughs beneficial to humankind.

I am grateful for the experiences of doing research, studying or communicating in all these subject areas and also the different types of research.

Speaking from experience there are many interesting career options. Life sciences are fascinating per se, and the Life Sciences sector is receiving a lot of attention from different governments.

I am noticing an increase in research opportunities advertised in academia or research institutes. I am also sure that many new opportunities will evolve in future.

It’s a great time to be considering a course, a career or an area of interest.
What an important and exciting time this is for undergrads, postgrads, and postdocs! How the world and humankind need you!

Let’s also remember that science is for everyone. Communication about research is very important!

In these rapidly changing times LIFE SCIENCES, clinical research, and health research contribute to our knowledge and understanding; find solutions and give hope.

There is much meaningful work still to be done and deserving of support.

by Dr Julie Charlesworth 20/10/2025

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

Earlier this week and very early one morning I woke up, walked over to the window and gazed to the hills to be greeted by this stunning spectacle!

I captured the moment with this snapshot. Only later that day did I realise its significance when my husband started playing the track Harvest Moon (see below). He can be a romantic at times which is much appreciated.

Life is hard and I think we are all feeling weighed down and weary by the woes of the world. In such times we can sometimes say harsh things without giving our words much thought. Sometimes, however, lovely moments come out of the blue and are worth sharing.

Thought for the weekend. My message serves as a reminder to pause, observe, and appreciate real things and natural phenomena. It is also a reminder to be kind, say something nice about someone, and share a smile on a seemingly ordinary day which may turn out to be not so ordinary after all 😊.

It’s the real thing caught on camera (no AI needed).

More pictures and comments may follow below.

by Dr Julie Charlesworth 09/10/2025

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[‘Harvest Moon’ by Neil Young. A song that celebrates a lasting relationship]

Could September be the time for reconnection, connection, and resurgence?
This is a message to all the amazing people I am proud to know and who work in many different fields. The very visible people and the quieter people all ‘doing their bit’ in troubling times in a complex world.

As an aside, I do not necessarily agree with all their views or even all your views, but I think that is healthy. It is important to keep an open mind sometimes, and from time to time check our own views and opinions in the light of new evidence or other perspectives.

Let’s remember there can still be many points of agreement and mutual interest with people who have very different perspectives.

SEPTEMBER IS ALREADY LOOKING LIKE A MONTH OF RESURGENCE, INCREASED ACTIVITY, AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES.

For the Younger Generations (and their parents):

‘Back to school’

‘Off to Uni’

Freshers’ week

For Everyone: It’s a good time to think about connections and reconnections.

I ALSO SEE MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN SCIENCE, and I try to highlight some on these in my LinkedIn ‘likes’

More to come here on science and naturally LIFE SCIENCES, CLINICAL AND HEALTH RESEARCH. Watch this space …

Are you ready?

by Dr Julie Charlesworth 15/09/2025