People

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

An innovative educationalist who worked on both sides of the Atlantic is remembered.

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

A researcher who transformed our understanding of how information systems can deliver benefits for organisations has died

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

An internationally renowned sociologist of youth has died

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

A leading authority on international trade negotiations has died

A theatre director who worked as an assistant to Bertolt Brecht before becoming professor of drama at Stanford University has died

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

A researcher who transformed our understanding of how people experience and relate to information has died

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

A leading authority on early American history has died

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

A leading exploration geologist has died

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

A statistician of genius who was also a committed political activist has died

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

A leading researcher in the field of renewable energy has died

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

A leading expert on corporate crime and social responsibility, who also wrote extensively about the funny side of the law, has died

A leading scholar who brought his deep knowledge of Chinese literature with him to the US – and then back to China and Taiwan – has died

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

Renowned chemist and administrator, known for his financial acumen and attention to detail, oversaw the creation of Cardiff University

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

A leading expert on applying IT within the cultural sector has died

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

An exceptional, bold and fearless expert on family law has died

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

A prominent educational leader who served as president of Princeton University from 1972 to 1988 has died

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

An expert on children’s reading who was closely involved in the merger that created the University of Manchester has died

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

One of Australia’s leading public intellectuals has died

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

A highly innovative former dean of the Stanford School of Education has died

A sociologist who helped to forge new qualifications and quality assurance regimes has died

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

A leading mathematical statistician whose work anticipated the age of ‘big data’ has died

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

A management consultant whose many studies of the sector gained him an OBE in higher education has died

A microbiologist who revolutionised the classification of bacteria has died

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

Melissa Fleming, spokesperson and head of communications and public information for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, discusses the vital nature of her work

Neonatal consultant was an ‘inspirational and gifted teacher’ at the University of Leeds

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

The president of the EAIE, on her life-changing semesters abroad as a student, the benefits of internationalisation, and overcoming barriers to student mobility

A leading American medievalist has died

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

A prominent advocate for engineering and education in the subject has died

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

An ‘infectiously brilliant’ intellectual historian has died

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

The founder of the University of Leicester’s astronomy department, who had a minor planet named in his honour, has died

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

A leading physicist, activist and author has died