I am a scientist. Mine is a professional world that achieves great things for humanity.

It is common, and encouraged by many journals, for research to be judged by the impact factor of the journal that publishes it. But as a journal's score is an average, it says little about the quality of any individual piece of research.

The prevailing structures of personal reputation and career advancement mean the biggest rewards often follow the flashiest work, not the best.

Everything I did in high school was focused on microbiology, looking at things like algae under a microscope for hours on end. When I was 13, I saved up $100 to buy a good used microscope. I was obsessed with microorganisms.

There is still an element of the BBC that feels it is somehow wrong, or it will be open to criticism, if it makes more money.

I think that consciousness has always been the most important topic in the philosophy of mind, and one of the most important topics in cognitive science as a whole, but it had been surprisingly neglected in recent years.

The blockchain is to money what SMTP is to email. It's an open way to move value around. Every existing player in this space - not just Venmo but also Google and Facebook and others - are all closed; they all want to work just within their own walled garden.

Masood Ahmed brings to the position of director of external relations extensive experience gained in a range of senior positions in international finance and development.