People

The Olympics and sport in general give countries a way to engage with the world, says Grant Jarvie, a sports studies expert

Science tsar Sir Keith O'Nions is to head a new Imperial College centre for security technologies, reports Zoe Corbyn

Lee Sanders will use his experience at Durham to bring Birmingham's ambitions for the future from concepts to reality

Ian Cooke, grounds manager at the University of Nottingham, has won an accolade from the RHS for his gardens

Roger Williams's passion for the welfare of the young is clear in all his roles, the most recent of which is leading Agora

Roger McClure's specialist knowledge makes him the perfect candidate to bring together further and higher education

A chance encounter led Alan Clements to a visiting professorship in Cuba, where he has also helped shape the IT curriculum

Alastair Hay's lifelong bid to rid the world of chemical agents culminated in a global treaty - and now an honour from Leeds

US-born fundraiser Liesl Elder joins her mentor at Edinburgh, eager to help direct its 'visionary' philanthropic campaign

Maureen Skinner started out making tea but now runs an 80-strong team and leads the professional body for HE managers

In her new role at Edge Hill, psychologist Tanya Byron is keen to encourage troubled young people to excel in education

Ex-policeman Graeme Pearson, head of a new centre to study serious crime, is keen to develop ways to curtail its global reach

Dilys Williams, director of the new Centre for Sustainable Fashion, looks to a greener future for the clothes we wear

Erotic fiction is not just for entertainment, it can also serve as a study of female sexuality, believes Mitzi Szereto

New science supremo Adrian Smith is keen to balance his roles in science and higher education and public engagement

David Law is keen to exploit Edge Hill's local strengths to help fulfil its ambitions to build a reputation in the global market

Mark Welland's new role as the Ministry of Defence's Chief Scientific Adviser is, he says, a 'massive job'. Zoe Corbyn reports

The Government's new 'whole community' initiatives will help fight extremism, says Kamlesh Patel. John Gill reports

Economists have a duty to speak directly to the public about global poverty, Paul Collier insists. Melanie Newman reports