Paul Roughan’s love of biology led to an international career
A shift in direction – from engineering to biology
Born in Hawaii to an American father and a mother from the Solomon Islands, Paul Roughan lived in the Solomons until he won a New Zealand-funded scholarship to study at Nelson College in Year 13.
The plan was for Paul to complete his final year in Nelson and then go on to the University of Canterbury to study engineering. However, a very passionate and engaging biology teacher in the Solomon Islands had already sparked a new interest.
"As tends to happen sometimes, I was sort of pushed into engineering because it was seen as one of the high-paying careers. But for me, I found DNA and genetics really fascinating, so biology was what I wanted to do.
"One lecturer in particular put me on the biology path. I think it’s really important to follow your interests in life – I just can’t see a career being sustainable any other way. Money in a job will keep you going for a while, but it’s passion that’s important in the long run."
Pausing study to start a family
In 1997, Paul completed his Honours degree in science, majoring in plant biotechnology, and started his doctoral studies. But he took time off from study to marry Karlyn, also from the Solomon Islands, and start a family. The couple now have five children, and make a point of returning to the Solomons about four times a year.
When back in the islands Paul keeps in touch with the Islands Knowledge Institute (IKI), an organisation he founded a couple of years ago to research and promote knowledge created by island peoples.
Paul’s work has also taken him to other parts of the world. He’s taught on biosafety issues at Tromsø – the world’s northernmost university – in Norway, and developed and taught programmes at the University of the South Pacific in Vanuatu, and at Canterbury University. He’s also a sitting member of a United Nations committee on biosafety, and travels to meetings around the world.
- Paul Roughan (right) doing research at Marau Sound in the Solomon Islands
Passing on the message that education is important
Paul and his wife both believe strongly in the importance of education, and are keen to instil these beliefs in their children. He admits there are tensions between the educated western mainstream way and the "islander approach", but says at the end of the day there’s only one truth when it comes to education.
"Anything worth doing takes effort, time, discipline and support. And Pasifika people have so much to offer the world – we have a different, unique take on things that would be an advantage in any profession. That’s the message I want to pass on to my children."
And if his children ever need inspiration, they need look no further than their own dad, who has just re-enrolled for his PhD in molecular biology at Canterbury University.
