Meet Dr Angus Paterson

	Dr Angus Paterson, a scientist at heart who enjoys managing institutions and enabling science.
	Angus is passionate about the translation of science into a format that all South Africans can access. Here he introduces learners to the exciting world of coastal monitoring and research.

Angus Paterson is known for his ground-breaking work, such as the establishment of a sentinel monitoring and research site in Algoa Bay at a time when the idea of establishing core long-term monitoring sites was mainly a terrestrial concept. Angus literally took the core site idea underwater by successfully setting up an array of instrumentation to monitor the physical conditions of Algoa Bay's waters.

GetSETgo spoke to Angus about how he started out in science, his love and passion for the sciences, his future plans and the things in life that excite him.

Tell us about your work ...

Being the Managing Director of the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) is a fascinating job as it involves a range of duties which include both science and institutional management. So for people like me, who are scientists at heart but enjoy managing institutions and enabling science, it is ideal.

Being in charge of an institution which is charged with investigating and conserving aquatic biodiversity can be quite daunting given our long coastline and river systems. So the position entails thinking strategically as to what the country requires in the long term with regard to biodiversity research; ensuring that top quality research is undertaken that is relevant to the country's challenges; maximising the use of the National Aquatic Biodiversity Collection and other research platforms such as boats and marine equipment; people and financial management and last, but not least, the translation of science into a format that all South Africans can access.

When did you join SAIAB? And what did you do before then?

I have had a long relationship with SAIAB dating back to being a field assistant for Professor Whitfield (SAIAB's Chief Scientist) in the late 1980's. I then undertook my PhD under the supervision of Professor Whitfield and was based at the Institute from 1992 to 2000. I then left science for a number of years and ventured into the consulting world, which honed my management and personnel management skills.

After seven years outside science, the calling to return became so great that I took up the position of the first manager of the coastal node of the South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), which was hosted by SAIAB. This position allowed me to establish a coastal research and monitoring unit. After five years at SAEON, the then Managing Director of SAIAB retired and I was promoted into that position. So being the Managing Director at SAIAB has been somewhat of a homecoming.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Johannesburg and was schooled at St John's College. In retrospect I had a carefree, relatively privileged upbringing in a time when South Africa was going through some of its most difficult periods. This probably instilled in me the need for redress in our country and the concept of making sure I utilise the advantages I was afforded to the best of my ability.

What did you study after school? Where? Why did you choose that?

I was brought up on fishing stories about my granddad on St Helena and from a very early age I knew I wanted to study fish. The best place to study fish was at the J.L.B Smith Institute of Ichthyology (now SAIAB) and the associated Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science at Rhodes University. So my choice of university and subjects were predetermined very early on. I always wanted to work at the J.L.B Smith Institute and the only variation to my plan was that I have taken a management path rather than a research role.

What are your future plans?

I intend to ensure I leave a better SAIAB which has a demographically transformed scientific staff and is a leading research organisation in South Africa and internationally. For myself I do not believe that managing directors should be in position for more than seven to ten years and so I will need to look for something to do when I'm in my fifties. I would ideally like to play a more strategic role in science, possibly in the Department of Science and Technology.

What do you do in your spare time?

Freedive, run and spend time at the coast with my family.

What is your favourite dish?

I grew up in Johannesburg in the 1970's, so it must be a cheese burger and chips.

What excites you most about life?

The fact that I live in South Africa, which is diverse in so many ways -- from people to plants and animals, and finally attitudes. I live in very exciting and challenging times. I am proudly South African.