Ian Stewart - MCQST Office
1. Briefly describe your current position, research focus, and your role within MCQST.
I joined the MCQST administrative office in August as the Communications, Programs, and Diversity Coordinator. That means I do a little bit of everything, including keeping our website up-to-date, posting on social media, and coordinating our support programs.
2. What are you enjoying most about joining the MCQST office recently?
My favorite task so far has been administering two of MCQSTs support programs, the Diversity in Leadership Program and the Mentoring Program, because I’ve gotten to meet a lot of younger physicists who are really passionate about their work and actively trying to develop themselves into better leaders. It’s also been fascinating to sit in on the workshops offered by the program, since they cover a huge variety of topics like diversity, mental health, and emotional intelligence. It’s really interesting to hear what experts on each topic have to say, and how they relate to everyday work in science.
I’ve gotten to meet a lot of younger physicists who are really passionate about their work and actively trying to develop themselves into better leaders.
3. Do you have any special/unique holiday traditions?
We have a few, but in the last two years we have watched the exceptionally terrible film Cats (the one based on the musical) on Christmas day. I love bad movies, so I have the feeling this will become a long-standing tradition.