Kathleen Richardson

Kathleen C. Richardson Director, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Clemson University Country of origin: USA

The most interesting and rewarding part of my job has been the broad cross-section of people that my career in optical materials has allowed me to meet and come to know. Whether it is the wide array of internationally notable scientists and engineers across the fields and countries teat span the globe, or a group of middle school girls who are anxious to see what a real-life scientist does and why, and how that "cool" experiment works, both have provided me with a feeling of great satisfaction. Each has an impact on me and hopefully on the person I meet, as we never know how or when we may have a chance to connect with that individual again. That science and education together can yield such a diverse yet interconnected network keeps it all interesting; at the end of the day, you have the knowledge that in some small way you've touched people's lives and perhaps have made a difference.