OU scientists feature in Radio 4 Life Scientific book

Posted on 28 September 2018 • Around the OU

Three Open University scientists, including the late Professor Colin Pillinger, are among a select group to feature in a new book based on the popular BBC Radio 4 series The Life Scientific.

The three OU scientists are: Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Hazel Rymer (and Professor of Environmental Volcanology), Professor in Planetary Sciences Monica Grady, the late planetary scientist Professor Colin Pillinger.

In addition, astrophysicist Dame Jocelyn Bell-Burnell, a former Head of Physics at the OU also features in the book, together with OU Honorary Graduate Professor Brian Cox.

The book is based on interviews given by the OU scientists and first broadcast on the series. It introduces the guests with in-depth profiles. It is the first book in a series, called The Life Scientific: Explorers.

The Life Scientific has a weekly average of two million listeners. Each book in the series will follow the winning formula of the radio programme, with a unique mix of the personal and the scientific. Each chapter focuses on a leading scientist and what inspires and motivates them, and what their discoveries might mean for mankind.

Author Anna Buckley is the series producer of The Life Scientific and has made more than 70 episodes of the programme since its inception.

With a foreward by programme presenter and OU Honorary Graduate Jim Al-Khalili, the book is published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson.