Prof William James
Pro-Vice-Chancellor, University of Oxford
University of Oxford Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof William James delivers a T-Talk entitled ‘Life is Science’ at Rhodes House. He expertly weaves four famous cartoon characters into his speech to tell of his own personal story as a scientist, and how science impacts on our lives more generally. He first uses Stuart the Minion to illustrate his own research on HIV-AIDS, and then Maggie Simpson to describe the childlike curiosity and inquisitive nature possessed by the best scientists as they study the world around them. The canary Tweety Pie acts as a metaphor for science being a barometer of a society’s good health, whilst Superman embodies virtues such as dedication and hard work.