Role model for women in science
EMERITUS Prof Margaret Baird was an awardwinning University of Otago immunologist and a popular and influential teacher whose caring approach and ‘‘zest for living’’ were highly valued by the many students she taught over the years.
Adding formidably to her research skills were strong organisational abilities, which were reflected in her cofounding, with the late Associate Prof Glenn Buchan, of Immunet.
This was initially a network of Otago University immunologists, but was later extended nationally.
And, with her PhD supervisor in transplant immunology (the late) Prof Barbara Heslop, of the Otago pathology department, she also played a significant role in helping to organise a Queenstown conference which paved the way for the development of the merged Australasian Society of Immunology.
In the society’s newsletter obituary, Prof Baird was described as ‘‘an outstanding role model and advocate for women in science’’.
Otago pathology department head Prof Sarah Young, who wrote the obituary with fellow department member Prof Antony Braithwaite, said Prof Baird had been a ‘‘fantastic’’ mentor to her, having given ‘‘great advice’’ to her and many others over the years, including how to manage having a family with pursuing an academic career.
Prof Baird was a committed supporter of Amnesty International as a longserving member of the Dunedin hill suburbs branch, and the writer of scores of letters on behalf of people needing Amnesty’s help.
A relatively late entrant to senior academic life, Prof Baird became a lecturer in the Otago University microbiology and immunology department in 1998, having previously worked as a research fellow in the Otago pathology department for more than a decade.
She had many collaborators, but Prof Buchan and Prof
Vernon Ward were key colleagues she built research programmes with, of which Prof Young was a part.
She was ‘‘very popular’’ in the department, and became postgraduate coordinator, spending a lot of time helping young students and researchers, hosting an annual breakfast for all the department’s postgrad students — more than 60 hungry students.
‘‘They all loved coming to a home and being looked after,’’ Prof Young said.
Prof Baird directly supervised more than 50 postgraduate students and was the examiner for a further 45 masters or PhD students within New Zealand and internationally.
She obtained nearly
$20 million in research funds as either a principal investigator or associate principal investigator and had published nearly 100 papers.
She also served on many university committees and national funding agency assessing committees and had taught thousands of undergraduate students, from first to fourth year.
Prof Braithwaite said Prof Baird brought ‘‘an entirely new flavour to the laboratory’’, which continued, and a ‘‘sparkle which was enjoyed by all’’.
‘‘Margaret will always be remembered as a selfless person, having an infectious zest for life and an undaunted enthusiasm for science.’’
In another tribute, university vicechancellor Prof Harlene Hayne said Prof Baird was part of the Otago University family.
The university’s collegial nature was a ‘‘doubleedged sword’’.
‘‘In good times, we share in our collective joy and success, but when we lose a member of our closeknit clan, we also share our collective grief.’’
Prof Baird carried ‘‘so many of her personal characteristics into her work’’.
‘‘She was warm and engaging and her enthusiasm was infectious.’’
When Prof Hayne first became deputy vicechancellor research and enterprise, and was trying to find her feet in the new role, Prof Baird had organised a morning tea and invited her to talk to students about commercialisation opportunities at Otago.
‘‘This is the way that she was — always mindful of what others might need to get the ball rolling.’’
‘‘I know that all of us will gain at least some comfort from knowing that our lives and our work are much richer because Margaret Baird was a part of them’’.
On her retirement from the microbiology department in 2012, Prof Baird took up a parttime research professorship back in the pathology department, working with Prof Braithwaite on the role of a key tumoursuppressing protein.
In 2013, Prof Baird received a scientific award, the Derek Rowley Medal, for service to the Australasian Society for Immunology.
She was the first New Zealander to gain the medal, first awarded in 2005, and told the ODT she felt ‘‘very honoured’’ and encouraged by the award.
Prof Baird said she hoped young immunologists would ‘‘contribute as much as they can’’ to the society.
‘‘They will receive one hundredfold more in return — as I have’’.
Born in Wellington, Prof Baird began her primary school studies in Nelson where her father, Alan McIntyre, was a shoe retailer, and mother Hazel (nee Hodder) was a nurse, and, later, a piano teacher.
The family shifted to
Tauranga, where Prof Baird later attended Tauranga College for Girls (195963), before starting her BSc zoology studies at Otago University, in 1964.
There, in May that year, she met her husbandtobe Stephen Baird in the chorus for that year’s Capping Concert. Mr
Baird recently recalled that, as well as being in the chorus, they were also both in a spoof skit based on a then current TV show Dr Kildare.
She was cast as the ‘‘daring and delicious nurse’’ while his role was that of ‘‘near demented’’ patient. The relationship grew and they were married 50 years ago in January 1967.
After completing her first degree in zoology in 1967, she taught science at biology at St Hilda’s Collegiate School for three years.
She also provided leadership in debating and drama, and this enthusiasm for many cultural and scientific areas characterised her life.
In the early 1970s she accompanied her husband when he taught mathematics in Honiara, capital of the then British Solomon Islands Protectorate and also went with him when he taught in in England.
In 1978, she enrolled in a new Otago postgraduate diploma course in immunology, a move which was to prove lifechanging.
She was fond of noting she was the oldest student and the only female on the course.
Prof Baird then went on to pursue PhD studies in pathology.
In her family life she was known for her ‘‘distinctive laugh’’, her ‘‘boundless energy and enthusiasm’’. Her love of nature and wildlife, including birdwatching, was shared with her grandchildren.
She had many skills and interests, including playing bridge, and her creativity expressed itself in broad interests in the arts, including music, as well as in science and biomedical research.
Prof Baird, who died last September at the Otago Community Hospice, aged 71, is survived by husband Stephen, their daughters Sophie Baird and Harriet Pope, and grandchildren Dan, Alex, Lucy and Daisy . — John Gibb