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Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell

Kirsty Young interviews Prof Dame Nancy Rothwell, president and vice-chancellor of Manchester University.

Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the scientist, Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, who is best known for her work in the field of neuroscience and stroke research. She is now President and Vice-Chancellor of Manchester University.
She claims that her decision to enrol at Queen Elizabeth College in London in the '70s was made not on the basis of their superior teaching on the function of living systems, but rather the institution's proximity to Kensington High Street. Anyway, she gained a first class degree and then bagged a PhD in just two years.

Could it be that her interest in how we keep the human body alive and functioning began when, aged eight, she contracted primary tuberculosis and was so ill she spent 18 months at home?

She says, "Like most academics my fate was sealed during my PhD, I fell in love with research and vowed I would do it until retirement. I was also sure that I would do my utmost to avoid any of those nasty administrative jobs."

Producer: Christine Pawlowsky.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 9 Jan 2015 09:00
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Sad CafΓ©

    My Oh My

    • Everyday Hurts: The Very Best Of Sad CafΓ©.
    • Camden.

  • Malcolm Arnold

    English Dances Opus 27 - 2nd movement

    Performer: Bryden Thomson. Orchestra: The Philharmonia Orchestra.
    • English Dances.
    • Chandos.

  • Howlin’ Wolf

    Moanin' at Midnight

    • Moanin' At Midnight.
    • Membran.

  • CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE

    • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Horn Concerto No. 4 in E-flat major - 3rd movement

      Performer: Herbert von Karajan. Performer: Dennis Brain. Orchestra: The Philharmonia Orchestra.
      • Horn Concertos Nos 1,2,3 & 4.
      • EMI.

  • Military Wives & Gareth Malone

    Wherever You Are

    • Where You Are.
    • EMI.

  • Susan Boyle

    Perfect Day

    • Perfect Day.
    • Syco.

  • John Mayall

    Took the Car

    • USA Union.
    • Polydor.

  • Jay Ungar, Nashville Chamber Orchestra, Paul Gambill & Molly Mason

    The Ashokan Farewell

    • Classical Chillout.
    • Virgin.

  • BOOK CHOICE

    A Teach Yourself Swedish book

  • LUXURY ITEM

    Sketchbooks and pencils

Credits

Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Nancy Rothwell

Broadcasts

  • Sun 4 Jan 2015 11:15
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 9 Jan 2015 09:00
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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