Greg Graffin

CAREERS

eurOpean uniOn turNiNg poiNt Grant system simplified The science-research grant-reporting and audit requirements of the European Commission (EC) are to become simpler. Greg Graffin New measures include accepting less- stringent grantee accounting practices, T r Greg Graffin has two passions: evolutionary discarding rules requiring grant recipients WA k biology and music. The latter led him to to deposit their grant money into a bank AN T co-found renowned punk band Bad Religion account and improving transparency in 1980. But even as a child he was wooed for criteria and timelines throughout by the provocative lyrics of Charles Darwin’s the grant cycle. In a meeting on 11–12 theory on evolution. Now an occasional October, the EC’s Competitiveness biology lecturer at the University of California, Council requested that the commission Los Angeles, Graffin last month released the streamline the process during the Seventh book Anarchy Evolution: Faith, Science, Framework Programme and make and Bad Religion in a World without God, further changes for the Eighth Framework co-authored with science writer Steve Olson. Programme, which launches in 2014. A He calls the work part memoir and part spokesman says that the aim is to cut red polemic. Graffin tells Nature how he turned to tape and introduce a more flexible and music without ever abandoning science. user-friendly system without decreasing financial control and oversight. When did you decide to pursue a PhD in to graduate school, my focus had shifted evolutionary biology? from vertebrate palaeontology to the On entering college. I had already released intersection of science and religion. Germany an album, in 1982. I was only 17 or 18, and the band was my outlet, but it didn’t yet Was the band supportive of your science? Biodiversity centre bid have an international reputation. When I The band has been together for 30 years. The German Research Foundation was a teenager, science meshed with my Everyone has always known that touring (DFG), the country’s main grant agency, developing ideals — such as the challenge follows the academic schedule. We tour in is soliciting proposals from universities to authority that was central to punk rock. summer when there is no fieldwork. Since to host a biodiversity centre that could In science, anyone from any walk of life high school, we’ve recognized that what create up to 80 postdoc and PhD positions, could make a discovery that would overturn makes us unique is the stories under the 6 professorships and 10 group-leader prevailing hypotheses. And that was a cause music, and my science is among them. positions. The DFG will make its selection for celebration among scientists. It taught me by April 2012; the host university will build that challenging authority has good results. Do scientists often not take you seriously? a new centre or expand an existing lab. Yes. I’m more likely to be criticized for my Proposals must be submitted by 14 January How did you get a PhD while the lead singer science, because I’ve been successful in 2011, and applicants must show how they for an internationally known rock band? music. I appreciate criticism, but so much of will collect and analyse data and set up a I got interested in palaeont ology and it isn’t constructive. Steve Olson has given study programme. The DFG will provide vertebrate history — sparked by books me insight into what to expect with the between €4 million (US$5.5 million) and on human evolution — then vertebrate book. Academic scientists aren’t generally €7 million a year for up to 12 years. The evolution. Studying with palaeontologists interested in books for the public. So when successful applicant must have expertise in kindled my interest in fieldwork. one comes out, the authors can’t expect biodiversity theory and modelling, ecology, I struggled to keep one foot in music and much praise from scientists. My goal both evolution and the science of conservation. one in academia. I had worked on my PhD as a singer and an instructor is to educate for three years full time before I realized through provocation and entertainment. Bad Religion could be a legitimate career. WOmen in Science We had tour offers from 12 countries. How do your students react to your fame? My classes have up to 350 students. The Gender target missed How did science influence your music? usual attitude is, “We’re serious. We’re European Union institutions and nations One example might be our song I Want pre-meds. Just tell us what we need to get have not met benchmarks for women’s Something More. The lyrics discuss how an A.” With pre-meds, you will weed out participation in the research workforce, we as humans struggle to form our world a lot of the punk rockers. But I have lively a report says. In an initiative to examine view. That is why religion was such an easy conversations in office hours. gender issues in science, the European target — not to tear it down, but to identify Commission decided in 1999 that women its fatal flaws. It claims to offer a world view, Did you really, as noted in the book, forgo an should make up 40% of its panels, and in but not one that resonates with us. outing with a groupie to do fieldwork in Brazil? 2005 that 25% of senior researchers should By the time that happened, I had already be female. The initiative’s final report, Did touring hinder your PhD? had the experiences that a rock star needs Stocktaking 10 years of ‘Women in Science’, I took six years’ leave from graduate to experience. I started Bad Religion at 15. released on 13 October, identifies reasons school, but it wasn’t just because of the And those activities stimulate different for women’s low numbers, including band. I had children, a divorce. All the parts of my brain. ■ inconsistent political support. Progress while, I considered Bad Religion a fruitful on gender issues continues to be erased by intellectual pursuit. By the time I went back intervieW by Gene ruSSO changes to political leadership, it says.