People

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

An academic described as a ‘giant in theoretical physics’ has died

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

An acclaimed designer who became an academic leader has died

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

A leading authority on the application of solar energy has died

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

A pioneering researcher into the viruses that can cause cancer has died

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

A leading curator of ancient American art has died

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

A leading authority on genetics and genetics education has died

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

A sociologist and anthropologist who investigated some of the most challenging aspects of Israeli society has died

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

A penetrating and highly original historian of Anglo-Saxon England has died

A political scientist who made a major contribution to criminology and the study of public order has died

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

A prominent and wide-ranging archaeologist has died

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

High-profile literary critic once described as “Australia’s most distinguished woman” was the first female chancellor of the University of Sydney

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

A leading researcher in the use of supercritical fluids and superheated water in industry, who founded one of the University of Leeds' first spin-out companies, has died

A neuroscientist and philosopher who offered many sharp insights into how our brains generate perceptions of the world has died

We talk about helping shape a country’s direction and the rise of managerialism in HE with the Bingham Centre’s new director

A geographer who radically reformed the discipline has died

We talk LGBT awareness, verbatim theatre and imaginary friends with the performer turned doctoral student

The former Cabinet minister on listening to jazz pianist Art Tatum, ambitions to be Stirling Moss, and how we shouldn’t view all politicians as crooks

A ‘legendary’ lecturer in psychology has died

We talk tours of duty, support for veterans and the travails of following Aston Villa with Chester’s new nursing professor

A leading physics educator has died

A highly influential and wide-ranging sociologist has died

We talk to the professional golfer about leadership and the possibility of swapping golf clubs for research after retirement

We talk to the digital games professor about the perception of games in the academy

A skilful and charismatic ‘drug hunter’ has died

We talk to the long-distance cyclist and documentary-maker about swapping pedals for academic robes

A leading authority on the British landscape has died

We talk to the Sheffield Hallam autism expert about societal prejudices, the focus on research impact and a rugby career curtailed

One of the leading radical geographers of her generation has died

We discuss discrimination in UK publishing, how universities misunderstand creative writing, and the benefits of arguing with lecturers

A leading economic psychologist who led [!Soas, University of London!] for almost a decade has died

A historian who transformed our understanding of the origins of ‘print culture’ has died

McGill’s leading astrophysicist talks fundamental science research, academic gender imbalances and amateur dramatics as a parent

A renowned topologist who established the University of Warwick’s Mathematical Institute as a major centre has died

A cancer researcher who greatly enriched our understanding of the processes of tumour formation has died

We talk to the civil rights campaigner about making higher education accessible to all and how the UK has a long way to go to end discrimination

We talk to the French academic and novelist about her ambitions in nuclear physics and REF fatigue

One of Britain’s leading organisational psychologists has died

An expert on postcolonial literature turned acclaimed memoirist has died

We talk to the research council CEO about pharmaceutical drugs modelling and a childhood interest in studying animal remains

‘A tremendously important and empathetic scholar’ who transformed our understanding of nationalism has died

We talk to the Princeton research scholar about being a fighter pilot, mindfulness and the existence of little green men

A lecturer in law who played a prominent role in the University and College Union has died.

We talk to the poet-academic about the expanding UK presence in international poetry, the value of creative writing courses and the pain of reading online

We talk to the artist and academic about black artists’ vital role in Modernism and how to bring this to the attention of the public

A leading researcher on diseases spread by insects and ways of combating them has died

A leading expert on Samuel Beckett and French 20th-century writing has died.

The former director general of the World Trade Organization talks immigration and inter-university rugby rivalries