This article is more than 6 years old

Academic DJs

Some surprising information has emerged about a group of academics who could be mistaken for BBC Radio DJs past and present.
This article is more than 6 years old

Paul Greatrix is Registrar at The University of Nottingham, author and creator of Registrarism and a Contributing Editor of Wonkhe.

I’ve noted here before the number of academics who happen to share their names with characters from the Archers

Three DJs have made it big in the academic world following the award of Honorary Degrees – Gilles Peterson at the University of Nottingham, John Peel at UEA, and Fatboy Slim at Brighton University. Now some surprising information has emerged about another group of academics who could be mistaken for BBC Radio DJs past and present (but mainly from the heyday of BBC Radio 1).

So, here’s the line up:

Playing our tune is Professor Simon Bates who is Professor of Teaching and Academic Director, Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology at the University of British Columbia.

Poptastically, Mr Tony Blackburn is Receiver & Fibre Optic Technician at Jodrell Bank, part of the University of Manchester.

Professor David Jacobs is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science and UMIACS, University of Maryland.

Alright pop-pickers you can find Alan Freeman, Senior Fellow in Public and International Affairs in the Faculty of Social Sciences, at the University of Ottawa. Not ‘arf!

Long serving DJ Pete Murray is Head of School of Management and Enterprise at the University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba Campus.

Dr Edward Stewart (many students and colleagues may or may not know him as ‘Stewpot’) is Lecturer in digital logic and microprocessor systems in the Department of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering at the University of Birmingham.

Dr David Hamilton (PhD, BSc (hons), BSc (hons), MCSP) is a research fellow in the Department of Orthopaedics, School of Clinical Sciences at the University of Edinburgh. No-one has ever called him ‘diddy’ though.

No kidding, at the University of Minnesota, David Jensen can be found – as a DJ he is known for his progressive outlook, here he is Director of Advancement.

Frankie says relax. Dr Michael (radio listeners may know him as ‘Mike’) Read, BSc, PhD is New Technologies Manager in the Division of Pharmacy & Optometry at the University of Manchester.

Rock on Tommy – Dr Thomas Vance is Assistant Professor of Accountancy, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Love the show Steve: Dr Steve Wright is a Senior Lecturer in Avionics, Systems, and Electronics in the Engineering Design and Mathematics Department at UWE Bristol. Peter Powell is a counsellor at the University of Oxford

Elsewhere, you can find Janice Long at Walden University School of Nursing and Richard Skinner at the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy where he is Dean. Also you can catch Annie Nightingale at the University of Victoria in Canada where she is a zoologist.

There must be more – are there other leading DJ namesakes in your university? #AcademicDJs

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