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David Bryce, assistant professor, Department of Chemistry
What inspires you most about your job?
The ability to perform fundamental research in an area of chemistry that is scientifically interesting is inspiring to me. In Canada, compared to many other countries, we still have a lot of freedom to pursue fundamental research, that is, research that is not directly targeted at an immediate commercial application. For me, the importance of this can’t be overstated.
Who is the most influential person in your life? Why?
Scientifically, my PhD and postdoctoral supervisors, Rod Wasylishen and Ad Bax, have been the most influential. They showed me how to do research and how to think about science. They instilled in me the need to pay attention to every detail of my field of research, NMR spectroscopy, no matter how trivial it may seem at the time; to think critically; and to generously acknowledge the contributions of those who came before me.
You’ve just won a $1 million. What do you do?
Buy a million hats for a dollar each and sell them for two dollars each.
Which five people (living or dead) would you invite to a dinner party? Tell us why.
John, Paul, George, Ringo … and Larry David. Because the Beatles were the best at what they did, which is always inspiring. And Larry David, co-creator of Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm, because he’d try his best to be affable.
