PhD Pioneers

This collection features the stories and experiences of twelve of the OU’s first PhD graduates from 1973-79. It contains their video and audio interviews which took place between April and June 2021 during the world-wide Covid pandemic. From as far afield as the USA and Canada, and including the very first OU PhD graduate, these pioneering students relate what it was like to study at the OU in its infancy in the 1970s.

Image of PhD Pioneers
Title Description Date
audio preview image for Dr Don Aldiss Interview Dr Don Aldiss InterviewDon Aldiss introduces himself and talks about his childhood and education, as well as his interest...2021
audio preview image for Dr Michael Baker Interview Dr Michael Baker InterviewMichael Baker discusses his childhood and education, his undergraduate degree at the University of...2021
audio preview image for Professor Oliver Boyd-Barrett Interview Professor Oliver Boyd-Barrett InterviewOliver Boyd-Barrett describes his childhood and his family's experience with higher education, his...2021
audio preview image for Professor Max Bramer Interview Professor Max Bramer InterviewMax Bramer introduces himself and talks about his experiences with early education, his...2021
audio record of Professor Julia Goodfellow InterviewJulia Goodfellow describes her experiences at Oxford and the OU in the attached video clips. [see...2021
audio preview image for Professor Jeff Haywood Interview Professor Jeff Haywood InterviewJeff Haywood discusses his undergradute and PhD experiences, his personal life during his studies,...2021
audio preview image for Professor Bill Morris Interview Professor Bill Morris InterviewBill Morris discusses his childhood and early education, his interest in geology and his...2021
audio preview image for Professor Stephen Potter Interview Professor Stephen Potter InterviewStephen Potter introduces himself and talks about his childhood and early education in North...2021
audio preview image for Dr Ken Richardson Interview Dr Ken Richardson InterviewKen Richardson discusses his childhood and early education, his PhD scholarship with the OU and his...2021
audio preview image for Dr Alfred Vella Interview Dr Alfred Vella InterviewAlfred Vella introduces himself and talks about his early education, his decision to study for a...2021
audio record of Dr Joan Whitehead InterviewJoan Whitehead introduces herself and discusses her early education, her experience working in the...2021
audio preview image for Professor Neil Wynn Interview Professor Neil Wynn InterviewNeil Wynn introduces himself, shares his memories of the OU in its infancy, and recounts his...2021