| Description | Interview conducted by Harriet Nailon.
No transcript.
00:00-00:40: Introduction - began studying at Battersea in 1959, doctoral degree graduation 1964; undergraduate degree in Physics at University of Bristol
00:40-02:16: Why Battersea College? aware Battersea College was becoming a College of Advanced Technology; contacted Lewis Elton, head of physics, and was offered interview with Jack Rider, head of material science, accepted as research student
02:16-03:12: Study: Structure of Doctoral degree, 3 years full time, two years part time; researched resonance of metals
03:12-04:40: Battersea facilities: contrast to large research team at Bristol University; research team started by Lewis Elton, working in nuclear structures; about 20 doctoral degree students at college, about 40 undergraduates in each class
04:40-05:20: Battersea area: lived in Putney, married in 1960, apartment with wife, convenient commute on direct train
05:20-06:45: Memorable staff: Lewis Elton, good at finding space to expand research, installed mezzanine floors
06:45-09:30: Industry contacts: mentions new sandwich courses; recalls contacts with companies in London; research in physics of polymers with Professor Keller led to contact with Shell company
09:30-12:40: International Contacts: Alan Crocker, working on solid Mercury, made contacts with Johns Hopkins College, in US; mentions Bob Green and placement at college; discusses early computing
12:40-13:10: Return home: Describes return to UK to focus on polymers, which led to sabbatical with Professor Keller at Bristol University
13:10-16:30: Move to Guildford: Lewis Elton rumoured to have chosen site belonging to Church of England; describes cinefilm made by students carrying coffin around buildings
16:30-19:39: Role as assistant lecturer: natural progression; describes Lewis Elton as good leader; students used first names of lecturers, mentions common room
19:39-20:24: Gender Balance in Science: remembers four or five female students out of undergraduate classes of 40 at University of Surrey
20:04-21:10: Career at University of Surrey: recalls moving department; remembers working under 5 different heads of department; left in 2006 as senior fellow.
21:10-:27:50: Regrets: describes performing National Service between 1954-1956 before going to university; mentions difficulty passing French O-level, mentions correspondence courses during National Service; recalls work as radar technician on airfield in Germany; mentions week of study leave in Cologne
27:50-31:24: Schoolboy aspirations: wanted to be science researcher; remembers headmistress at school saying he should be a teacher; comfortable talking to people about technical things; describes electric clock from childhood
31:24-36:10: Developments in teaching Physics: describes growth in teaching of atomic physics and quantum mechanics; use of computing has expanded; industrial placements has expanded to other universities; mentions drop in hand drawing diagrams for publications; discusses the undergraduate's view of history of physics
36:10-39:10: Students: describes photographs shared at reunion of class of 1972; discusses how students have changed; considers new students are more prepared for university; discusses personal tutors; more acceptance today, more cosmopolitan
39:10-43:44: Socialising: didn't play sports; suggests socialising is more important for current students than it was; mentions Battersea Students' Union; explains postgraduates lived off site, so were not as involved in social life and clubs; mentions 1968 student revolution
43:44-47:30: Student life in 1960s: describes restrained married life in mid 1960s; describes significance of the Cold War and marches with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament; describes childhood during Second World War and increase in opportunities during 1950s; mentions Cuban Missile Crisis
47:30-52:09: Regrets: describes sabbatical to Johns Hopkins College in United States of America; considers openness of American society and lack of class structure, describes 'can do' attitude and good university facilities; discusses Brain Drain of British scientists moving to America
52:09-01:00:36: Computing: describes value of computers to physicists; mentions Lewis Elton's use of computers, Eigenvalues for Shredding equations; remembers setting up Computational Physics Teaching Laboratory in 1973 with Lewis Elton; recalls role as director of computer assisted learning at University of Surrey during early 1980s; mentions project with St Thomas' Hospital and project to create simulations of physical systems for training; discusses the relationship between teaching and training
01:00:36-01:03:20: Future of computers in education: reference to Microsoft, explains desire to increase knowledge and teaching of concepts of computing; describes how computers teach new ways of thinking
01:03:20-01:08:50: Robots: Concludes they are and will be valuable tools; mentions Da Vinci robots, can do keyhole surgery, controlled by surgeon; mentions artificial intelligence; mentions potential of quantum biology, due to success of quantum mechanics
01:08:50 - End
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