Thank you to everyone who has supported and read my posts over the last twelve months. Thank you also to those whose own posts elsewhere have informed, shared wise words, or entertained. I have learned a lot and enjoyed reading and viewing them.

Wishing you all the best for 2024.

To happiness, hope, positivity, and possibilities.

From Julie
A Tree of Life Sciences®

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Taking a moment to smile can mean a lot to someone who needed it 😊❤️.

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by Dr Julie Charlesworth 01/01/24

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Time to lighten up for the festive season…

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CHRISTMAS CHEER AND FESTIVE HUGS ©

Hip hip hooray!
Christmas cheer.
It’s that time of year.
Again.

Dropping hints
Shopping stints
Less worry
More merry
Please.

Ding dong bell 🔔
Let all be well!
It’s jingle bells
And cinnamon smells.

Walking on eggshells
Tensions
Apprehensions.

Seasonal Greetings
Family meetings
Some travel afar
Some stay where they are.
Phew!

Fewer silly squabbles,
Wibbles and Wobbles.
Fewer family feuds.
We hope.

Less distance
Less insistence
Less being rude.
A chance to diffuse a family feud.

A chance to savour delightful food.
Savour the festive fervour.
Takes us one step further.
Festive mugs.
Hugs (sans bugs).

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©Julie Charlesworth, 2023

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by Dr Julie Charlesworth 12/12/23

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A few more words and my ‘homemade holiday snaps’ to brighten the days until the New Year:

‘I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.’ Maya Angelou.
😉 😊

A little something to make you smile:

‘Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle’ or may be suffering a sadness you know nothing about. My heart goes out to everyone who is finding this time of year difficult.

‘Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness’

The year 2023 marks 10 years and counting…
It’s been a blast!

A Tree of Life Sciences®.

🚀🤩🤗😊😉 🎉💥 ☀️ 🌟
Lost for words 😉.

by Dr Julie Charlesworth 27/11/23

We don’t have to look far to find Nature. After a long dark night comes the daylight revealing gloriously warm shades of autumn foliage. Here is a collage of moments I captured in snapshots, shared in autumns of recent-past years and present.

My photos are taken in the garden and close to home up North in the UK.
 
I am holding a sparkler in the garden – on the 1st day of the autumn lockdown in the UK in the 1st year of the pandemic (November 2020). It was an impromptu moment.
 
These days it seems life can be very cruel for many people.

‘Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness’.
 
With warm wishes to all.

by Dr Julie Charlesworth 20/11/23

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‘Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.’ ~ Desmond Tutu.

I thought it timely to pen some thoughts in verse:

THE HALF-TRUTHS ©

In search of truth
Beware half-truths.

The half-truths that lull us into believing
Falsehoods that could be deceiving.
Information accepted fully and in haste.
Can instil trust that is misplaced.

False statements that contain a grain of fact.
Might shape our thoughts and how we act.
They could even aid deception.

Thus, misinformation and disinformation flow.
And seeds of misconception grow.

It’s good to have an open mind.
To listen but also to question
The source of a suggestion.
To seek evidence and review
Being careful not to misconstrue.

In science and in life we must
Beware half-truths and misplaced trust.

©Julie Charlesworth, 2023
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Curiosity and an open mind are good but healthy skepticism without cynicism is also good. ‘Keep an open mind but not so open that your brain falls out.’

by Dr Julie Charlesworth 20/10/23

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See also my earlier poem putting simply how misinformation and disinformation are wrong.

I am thinking again about all those embarking on studies and research careers, particularly in life sciences and of course generally as well. How the world and humankind need you! How we should all be encouraging and supporting the younger research generation. For all those students and researchers driven by a passion for their subject it should be a time to really enjoy studying and research for the sake of research; a time to explore interests and have a great life and social life too. It’s not the easiest of times and research can be very frustrating with many ups and downs. It was ever thus. It is however an adventure with opportunities to grasp, whilst keeping a sense of perspective and having fun! Many of us are willing you on to a great future!

Looking forward…

The skills learnt will be transferable for many different career options. Early career researchers have much to contribute, and they deserve to be challenged, encouraged, and supported in their research careers. They also have so much potential in many walks of life and different spheres.

by Dr Julie Charlesworth 26/09/23

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I have just seen a new 36-minute documentary-style film ‘Race Against Resistance: The Life And Death Struggle To Save Antibiotics’.

I think the film is worth watching as a timely reminder of the AMR issues we are facing.

What kind of world do we want for future generations?

This film covers some background and history, recent personal stories, and innovative research approaches. It also touches on the potential value of AI in drug development.

ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE (AMR) is a global health issue of the utmost concern.

AMR is something I have written about several times since the summer of 2015 when I posted my first short article on LinkedIn about ‘spreading the word’ and a blog on my company website about ‘Doing the right thing’. I have subsequently reported on interesting research updates from science meetings, and I have also shared communications from other sources such as in this latest post.

Thinking of the world we are giving to our children, grandchildren, and future great-grandchildren.

This is an interesting subject generally and there are messages that need to be communicated widely. It could be a particularly interesting and important research area for life science students and early career researchers. 

by Dr Julie Charlesworth 06/09/23

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Thank you to BBC StoryWorks.
Race Against Resistance: The Life And Death Struggle To Save Antibiotics | BBC StoryWorks
September 5th, 2023. (available to view on YouTube).

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Life is an adventure. Overall, I am enjoying the journey but just now the road is a bit rocky.

I am thinking of those people whose summer holidays are coming to a close and the many who are returning to work etc. Others are still on holiday, maybe even stranded abroad for now. Some will be about to have their holidays. There will be many stories. Many people like me were affected by the UK air travel issues on August 28th. My summer break literally never got off the ground this time.

I decided to return home after a day at the airport. On the other hand, my luggage is having an adventure of its own!
 
There will be sad stories and even funny stories from different people in different situations. At the airport, naturally there were many frustrated travellers. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the feeling of togetherness and sense humour of many people in the face of adversity.
 
I did have some reservations about being away this time and so on the plus side I get to spend time with family members who may be appreciative of support now.
 
Sometimes we don’t know who is having a tough time – always try to be kind.

Life happens! Even the best laid plans don’t always get off the ground.
 
Look for the light. Stay positive!
 

by Dr Julie Charlesworth 01/09/23

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At this time of year, I think about those embarking on studies in life science subjects at university, those who have completed their first degrees, and those starting their PhD research.

My previous post was about A levels results day and getting into university.

I have also previously posted about my experience as a PhD student and one of my proudest achievements of achieving a first-author publication in Nature during my PhD years!

I would like students and early researchers to see some of the possibilities beyond PhD and this is why I have been sharing an outline of my own career path. It has been a rich source of stories and experience to discuss when career mentoring my undergraduate and PhD student mentees.

So, what happened after my PhD research at the renowned Paterson Institute?

From academia and research institute to industry; from industry to independent company founder and owner.

My postdoc research experience in industry came about through a chance meeting on a train in my twenties but it proved to be a good choice, and a springboard to many other opportunities…

A subsequent move to Big Pharma provided 20 interesting years; international impact, learning and development I had never imagined.

And then to a further 20 years of exhilarating independence beyond this!

Along this career path I had focus, persistence, and purpose. However, it didn’t always go to plan – and in hindsight that made for a more interesting adventure!

Moreover, my career path isn’t as linear as it looks – it has zigzags, circles, and pauses along the way. All this enabled me to hone and build on my science research skills, discover new specialist subjects, and expand my range of experience and skills.

Little did I know how many different opportunities would unfold over the years and this has given me many stories and some yet to tell.

As a graduate biochemist, or even after attaining my PhD I could not have predicted that writing, medical communications, and science communications would feature so strongly later in my career.

The richness and sometimes uniqueness of chances and experience put me in good stead for subsequent contributions as a consultant, a writer, and a communicator. I founded my own independent company, and I was able to contribute as a specialist in some areas or as a generalist across different disciplines.

I hope that by sharing the opportunities that unfolded for me I can be an inspiration to those considering a career in life sciences or related areas.

After 47 years as a scientist, I have done my bit and contributed to science and humanity. That is all I ever set out to achieve. Through A Tree of Life Sciences® I find I can ‘live the dream’.

The adventure in Life Sciences and beyond continues…

And still the joy of discovery in science research resonates!

by Dr Julie Charlesworth 24/08/23

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Previous post: PhD. First-author publication in Nature. Grateful for the chances that made this possible.

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Congratulations again to those students who are happy with their exam results!

Whether grades exceed expectation or are disappointing, positivity, and perspective are important.

Results Day is something many people will relate to, whether directly affected this year as a teenager, a parent or for another reason.

I have written about this previously. My message remains the same to students, parents, and university admissions alike. Don’t despair, think laterally, take a chance.

I just wanted to add that being proactive and persistent will improve the likelihood of luck, chances, and opportunities. Hard work always pays off in the end.

Enthusiasm and focus still count for a lot these days.

Remember most successful people have a few ‘blips’ along the way and learn from adversity.

by Dr Julie Charlesworth 17/08/23

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I am thankful to Manchester University for taking a chance on me as an 18 year old many years ago.