Margaret Brimble: A University of Auckland chemistry professor and recent laureate in the L'Oreal-UNESCO science awards talks about the living room of her Epsom home

摘要

This room is about relaxing. It's for family time and entertaining visitors. For me it's a room away from work - there are no books or computers in here. My taste is conservative. I live in a modern house but the living room is decorated in a traditional English style. The floral lounge suite was chosen to offset the plain blue carpet and cream walls on which four Beatrix Potter plates and some cross-stitch works are displayed. I like pretty things and everything has to be colour coordinated. My laboratory, my office and my home are tidy and well ordered. I don't fit that cliche of the disorganised scientist at all. It's a nice sunny spot in the afternoons and I find it relaxing just to sit and look at the china, at the pieces with sentimental value. I started collecting china in England when I was studying for my PhD at the University of Southampton. Whenever I had a chemical reaction that didn't work out, I'd head to Debenhams department store and buy a piece of china. It was the ultimate therapy - retail therapy, of course. There are close to 200 pieces in my china collection now.