HE and Me

We talk poverty, political correctness gone mad and the comfort of whisky with the outspoken historian

We talk emergency responses to terrorist attacks, geekiness and happy memories of the Olympic Games with Surrey’s professor of medicine

We talk about academia as a refuge for artists, curtailed basketball careers, and escaping Michigan’s “shire” with the multifaceted music composer

We talk doping, ‘slithering’ through university and breaking world records with the former double Olympic champion

We talk diversity, the joy of family meals and Professor Stephen Hawking with the new Cambridge college master

We talk about the importance of women-only colleges, academics’ role in policymaking and personal tragedy with the noted political scientist

We talk mind-shaping, global citizenship and racial tolerance with the former BBC senior manager

The award-winning professor discusses Yugoslavia’s war, women and engineering, and how nationalism hurts research

We talk to the neuroscientist and sex researcher about prudish attitudes, personal threats and what goes on in a sex research lab

The leading forensic anthropologist discusses her Presbyterian work ethic, remaining detached in the face of human suffering, and unhelpful advice from a PhD supervisor

We discuss realising what it means to be black in the UK, dealing with insomnia, and institutional racism in the academy, with the renowned race and black identity scholar

The former leader of the House of Lords talks inequality, widening access to higher education and keeping on top of technology

The former Archbishop of Canterbury discusses religious leaders’ obligation to promote equality, the challenges of meeting controversial heads of state, and concerns about the growth of populism

The noted theatre director talks about dispelling drama school preconceptions, reducing tuition fees and negotiating with local gangs

The eminent philosopher talks of academics’ vanity, the place of philosophy in a ‘post-truth’ world and her reservations about the TEF

We talk misconceptions about quantum physics, the importance of global research collaboration and Nobel prize aspirations with the award-winning Canadian physicist

The fashion designer talks about treating a university education like a nine-to-five job, the importance of student interaction and defying graduation clothing convention

The comics researcher discusses ‘Mickey Mouse’ degree accusations, lessons on wartime alliances and the perils of eating cheese before bedtime

The author of The Entrepreneurial State discusses misconceptions surrounding innovation, rethinking the role of the public sector and her aims as founder of a new innovation institute at UCL

We talk to psychiatrist Vikram Patel about delivering healthcare in low-resources communities, how academics can learn from acting, and the hippy lifestyle of Goa

The acclaimed novelist and distinguished writer-in-residence at the University of Surrey talks about teaching, researching her novels and why she skipped all her lectures

Birmingham City University’s new chancellor talks about his experiences as a mature student, how education is a right, and why the British public rock

We talk about the social responsibilities of universities, crime scene investigation and attracting talent to the North East of England with the vice-chancellor of the University of Cumbria

We talk about mathematical misconceptions, public engagement and lecturing with tigers with the recent winner of the Euler Book Prize

The psychologist who signed up for a PhD aged 17 talks about proving her teachers wrong, keeping an open mind, and the biggest misconception about psychology

We talk student protests, forgotten heroes and lessons from history with Northwestern University’s next provost

The Olympian and chancellor of Oxford Brookes University talks about camaraderie between athletes, competition in the HE sector, and how her academic and athletic careers have complemented each other

We talk to the new chancellor of Bath Spa University about censorship, Brideshead Revisited and why campuses should be a place for outrage

The incoming dean of arts and humanities at UCL speaks about tuition fees, snobbery in film studies and making Margaret Thatcher likeable

We talk with the new president of the European University Institute about the politicisation of British universities, being a European citizen (whether you like it or not) and having no regrets

We talk with this year’s winner of the THE Lord Dearing Lifetime Achievement Award about the decline of student politics, what Michael Gove is getting wrong and bacon sandwiches

We talk about armed police, rowing and challenging stereotypes with the first police officer to head an Oxbridge college

We talk with the UN medal winner about the commercialisation of research, the merits of transnational scholarship and why scientists are like used-car dealers

We talk women’s equality and emancipation, the necessity of HE investment in developing countries and eureka moments in the Himalayas with the new head of the Asian University for Women

We talk blue-sky thinking, academic mobility and not ‘sweating the small stuff’ with the new Australian Research Council funding director

We talk to the renowned crime author about the challenge of writing, professorial aspirations and how long it takes to finish The Times crossword

We talk about growing up in the North East of England, alcohol consumption advice and international cricket aspirations with Newcastle University's new head

Would you prefer to live as a badger, an otter, a swift, an urban fox or a deer? We speak to the academic who did all five

We talk doctor supply, the importance of medical research and impostor syndrome with the new Medical Schools Council chair

We speak to Hergé biographer Benoît Peeters about the growing acceptance of graphic novels as a serious literary genre, the rich history of francophone comics and his favourite Tintin books

We speak to the head of Nanyang Technological University about the rise of Asia, what it’s like being a European leading a Singaporean institution, and barbecue chicken

We talk civic engagement and the dream of all academic subjects incorporating the arts with St Andrews' new theatre chief

We talk government-university relationships, protecting Welsh students’ finances and the highs and lows of supporting Cardiff City FC, with the former politician

We talk Australian wildfires, the emerging field of environmental humanities and rock musician aspirations with Bath Spa’s new interdisciplinary professor

We talk widening participation, gender discrimination in film, and wishing on shooting stars with the French former film executive

We talk tuberculosis, tough decisions and pancake races with the Manchester vice-chancellor

We talk to the digital publishing specialist about bringing historical figures to life, including the founder of the Pearly Kings and Queens, and how to eat lychees

We talk gangsters, London crime and dodging punches with the noted ethnographer

We talk about the impenetrability of physics, the problem with Psi and “corporate uni bollocks”

We talk Brexit, astronaut aspirations and the difficulties of surfing in a landlocked region

We talk with the Royal Academy of Engineering Silver Award winner about impactful research, encouraging young women into science and how engineering is not just about an oily rag and a spanner

We talk robots, impact and goal-scoring abilities with the University of Bath’s new data scientist

We talk to the psychology professor about diversity in higher education, academics’ civic engagement, and mindfulness

We talk match-fixing, sporting scandal and irritating acronyms with a sports law academic

The winner of the Copley Medal talks structural biology, fixing cars and sleeping soundly

We talk migration, being an academic outsider and Brexit with the RGS award winner

The noted journalist discusses political bias on TV news reporting and the importance of students discovering their own voice

We talk to the US banking mogul about entrepreneurialism, carving a niche in British banking and contrarianism

The founder of The Huffington Post tells us how much sleep deprivation impacts on students’ well-being and how it could account for Donald Trump’s idiosyncratic election campaign