HE and Me

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We talk globalisation, internationalisation and Marmite with the future head of a South Pacific university

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

We talk diversity at the Oscars, the possibilities for British film-makers and the vital importance of film-making pedagogy

We talk to the glaciologist about how it feels to have a glacier named after him and the chances of a catastrophic sea-level rise resulting from climate change

We talk to the Monash University figurehead about a world record in sailing and the importance of political certainty for Australian higher education

We talk human existence, Cristiano Ronaldo and the problems with Portugal’s higher education system with Lancaster’s new astrophysicist

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

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

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

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

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

We talk to the former coalition government minister about the Liberal Democrats’ tuition fees U-turn and how Westminster can be an isolating work environment

The University of Glasgow vice-principal talks about her journey from studying under communism in Poland to the senior leadership team of a UK university

The multiple Paralympic gold medallist and now university chancellor reveals her excitement about graduation ceremonies and her sleeplessness over Daleks

We talk Whitehall, tuition fees and Sunderland FC with the veteran Daily Mirror journalist

We speak to the London College of Fashion professor and author of a new book on Muslim fashion

The former Labour Cabinet minister talks about her foray into the world of university senior management

On 25 October it will be the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt. Ahead of the commemoration, we talk to an Agincourt expert about its continued historical significance

We talk to the Liverpool Hope lecturer who featured in the finale of This Is England ’90

We talk to the winner of the Russian Geographical Society’s Fedor P. Litke Gold Medal

We talk to the world-famous photographer about donning a cap and gown as a university chancellor

The new principal of Brasenose College, Oxford, on widening participation and comparisons to Marvin the paranoid android

We talk to the director of the Egypt Exploration Society about mummies, whether university is right for everyone and his one-time ambition to play guitar for Radiohead

The former England rugby league captain and double university graduate talks higher education and life after sport. Plus the latest higher education appointments

The new Russell Group chair on the looming spending review, criticism of elite universities and their leaders, and cycling from one end of the country to the other

We talk to the AHRC chief executive as he prepares to move to the School of Advanced Study

We talk to the new chancellor of the University of Westminster

We talk to the University of Cambridge academic who brings engineering to life

We talk to the Labour MP for Barking and former chair of the Public Accounts Committee

We talk to the newly appointed visiting professor at the University of Surrey

We talk to the lawyer, academic, former pro-chancellor and founder of a private university in Nigeria

We talk to the latest Sêr Cymru research chair

We speak to the chair of the Alan Turing Institute

We speak to the vice-chancellor of the University of Melbourne, the host of the THE World Academic Summit