Recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate in recognition of her contributions to Flinders University over 50 years, Pat Vilimas tells us about the changes she has seen over five decades, and the advice she’d give to her younger self. 

What is your role and what does your work focus on?

My role is to provide support to the College of Medicine and Public Health, Technical Services Microscopy Research Technology Platform. I look after the running, maintenance and training of histology, immunohistochemistry and microscopy services in the new Health and Medical Research Building.

You’ve been at Flinders for 50 years – what’s the biggest change you’ve seen?

It has to be in the late 80’s when computers arrived and we could do things faster, but not necessarily easier!

Congratulations on your Honorary Doctorate – what does this honour mean to you?

The award is really in recognition of the contribution that all professional staff make to the University community

What is something you love most about your work?

I love discovering things, how they work, being in a lab, being ‘hands-on’, preparing slides, using instruments, microscopes, creating images, training researchers and students

If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?

Do the things you planned as you think of them because unexpected things have a way of upsetting those plans!

How do you like to relax or spend your spare time?

I spend time in the garden, growing vegetables, cooking and trying new recipes to use the excess, crosswords and enjoying the company of my family and our two dogs plus a couple of cats.