Computer Vision News - June 2020

2 Summary The Lab of the Month 4 Outside of her field, she is excited by all the work on robotics and the advances regarding clinical procedures that integrate robots. As part of this series of interviews on AI in medical imaging, our readers certainly remember our interview with Matina Giannarou from the Hamlyn Centre for Robotic Surgery about her work in this sphere. “Robots are amazing really,” Ester says enthusiastically. “They are able to help clinicians by accurately performing complex tasks. On the one hand, robots are managed by clinicians, but at the same time they are improving their movements. There’s an old video about a robot suturing a grape. That video already amazed me a few years ago when I first saw it!” Ester juggles academic life with that of being a parent, which can be difficult at the best of times, but in the current climate, the line between childcare and professional responsibilities is blurring. How is she coping? “Currently, we’re working at home and we need to produce research and deliver outcomes without being at the hospital, which is a very tricky thing to do because we are used to working with clinicians. I think it’s important to have support from the whole research community and your colleagues, as well as at home.” Ultimately, Ester believes flexibility is key when supporting people with caring responsibilities – whether that’s looking after children or an older relative that needs care. “Inmy case, having a child, it makes me more efficient, but also, I have limited time,” she says. “However, I’m very lucky to work in the WEISS Centre. We offer great support for working mothers and parents in general.”