From: Who's Who in Science and Engineering, 6th edition, 2003 (USA).

FORD, BRIAN J
research scientist, author, broadcaster

 

Occupation: Chartered Biologist; Author, Lecturer and Broadcaster

Born: Corsham, Wiltshire, England.

Parents: William John Ford and Cicely Beryl Pryn, [née Biddick]

Married: Janice May Ford 3 June 1971
Children: Tamsin Emily May
Foster-children: Timothy James Havard, Lee Roy Mills

Children from previous marriage: Anthony John, Kevin Stuart Pryn, Sarah Rose Pryn

Educated:

Minchenden School, London, England, 1950-51

The King's School, Peterborough, England, 1951-1956

Cathays High School, Cardiff, Wales, 1956-1958

University of Cardiff, Wales, 1959-1961

Professional:

C. Biol., F. I. Biol., F.L.S.

Chartered biologist

Fellow, Institute of Biology

Royal Literary Fellow at The Open University

Fellow, Linnean Society

Creative Works:

1. 1967, Science Diary, 128pp., Letts: London (annual editions).
2. 1969, German Secret Weapons - Blueprint for Mars, 160 pp, ISBN 0-345-24989-5-250, New York: Ballantine.
3. 1970, Allied Secret Weapons: The War of Science, 160pp, ISBN 0-345-25892-4-250, New York: Ballantine.
4. 1970, Microbiology and Food, illustrations and cover design by the Author, [hardback edition] 212pp, ISBN 0 950 1665 020X , London: Northwood.
5. 1971, Nonscience and the Pseudotransmogrificationalific Egocentrified Proclivities Inherently Intracorporated In Expertistical Cerebrointellectualised Redeploymentation with Special Reference to Quasi-Notional Fashionistic Normativity, The Indoctrinationalistic Methodological Modalities and Scalar Socio-Economic Promulgationary Improvementalisationalism Predelineated Positotaxically Toward Individualistified Mass-Acceptance Gratificationalistic Securipermanentalisationary Professionism, or How To Rule The World, a quasi-official report, 206 pp, ISBN 0 7234 0449 6, London: Wolfe.
6. 1973, The Optical Microscope Manual: Past and Present Uses and Techniques, 205pp, ISBN 0-7153-5862-6, Newton Abbott: David and Charles.
7. 1973, The Earth Watchers, 190pp, ISBN 85632-020-X, London: Leslie Frewin.
8. 1973, The Revealing Lens: Mankind and the Microscope, 208pp, ISBN 0-245-51016-8, London: George Harrap.
9. 1976, Microbe Power - Tomorrow's Revolution 182pp, ISBN 0-356-08384-5, London: Macdonald and Jane’s.
10. 1979, Patterns of Sex - the Mating Urge and our Sexual Future 205 pp, ISBN 0-354-04375-7, London: Macdonald and Jane’s.
11. 1982, The Cult of the Expert, hardback edition, 194pp, ISBN 0-241-10476-9, London: Hamish Hamilton.
12. 1983, 101 Questions about Science, 90pp, ISBN 0-241-10992-2, £6.95, London: Hamish Hamilton.
13. 1984, 101 More Questions About Science, illustrated by Brian Bagnall, 90pp, ISBN 0-241-11246-X, £5.95, London: Hamish Hamilton.
14. 1985, Single Lens, the Story of the Simple Microscope, 182 pp, ISBN 0-434-26844-5, London: William Heinemann, £9.95.
15. 1985, Compute; How, Where, Why ... Do you really Need To? 115pp, ISBN 0-241-11490-X, £7.95, London: Hamish Hamilton.
16. 1986, The Food Book, pp152, ISBN 0-241-11834-4, London: Hamish Hamilton.
17. 1990, The Human Body, 62pp, ISBN 1 85561 013 2, London: Belitha Information Library.
18. 1991, The Leeuwenhoek Legacy, 185pp, Bristol: Biopress, ISBN 0-948737-10-7 and London: Farrand Press, ISBN 1850-830-169.
19. 1992, Images of Science - a History of Scientific Illustration, 208pp, ISBN 0-7123-0267-0, London: British Library.
20. 1993, First Encyclopedia of Science, 157pp, ISBN 0-86272-944-0, London: Kingfisher Books.
21. 1994, The New Guinness Book of Records Quiz Book, ISBN 0-85112-635-9, 128pp, £5.99, London: Guinness Publishing.
22. 1996, BSE - The Facts, ISBN 0 552 14530 0, 208pp, £4.99, London: Corgi Books.
23. 1999, Genes, the Fight for Life, 248pp ISBN 0-304-35019-2, £14.99. London, Cassells; New York, Sterling Publications. Available from the Amazon on-line bookstore.
24. 1999, Sensitive Souls, 340pp, ISBN: 0 316 63956 7, London: Little, Brown.
25. 2000, The Future of Food, 120pp, ISBN 0-500-28075-4, London and New York: Thames & Hudson.
26. 2000, The Secret Language of Life, 320pp, ISBN 0-88064-254-8, New York: Fromm International.
27. 2000, The First Fifty Years 135pp, ISBN 0 0900490 37 3 (h/b), 0 900490 38 1 (p/b), London: Institute of Biology.

Television:

Week In, Week Out (BBC, 1965)

Science Reports (ITV, 1996)

Food for Thought (Channel 4, 1984)

Computer Challenge (BBC 1985)

Jensheits das Kanals (German Television, 1986)

Weapons of War, with Charlton Heston, (History Channel, 1998).

Radio:

Good Morning Wales (from 1965)

Where are you Taking us? (from 1966)

Kaleidoscope (from 1974)

Dial a Scientist (from 1975)

Science Now (from 1976)

Round Britain Quiz (1998-present)

Science Hour (1999-present).

Lectures:

Ford has lectured in Europe and North Africa, Middle and Far East, India, Thailand, Australia, Pacific Islands, and in many of the United States. Annual lecture at Inter Micro, Chicago, Illinois, 'An Evening with Brian', 1984-present.

Civic Activities:

Fellow (1986) and Member of the Court of Governors (1984), University of Cardiff.

Fellow (1984) and Member of Council (1996-1999), Institute of Biology, Member of Public Public Relations Board (1998-) and Chairman of the History of Biology (1989-).

Fellow of the Linnean Society of London (1980), Member of Library Committee (1986-) Member of Council (1993-99) and Honorary Surveyor of Scientific Instruments (1996-).

Member of Council (1996-), Cambridge Society for the Application of Research.

Fellow of the Cambridge University Philosophical Society (1989-), Cambridge University.

Member of Advisory Board (1995-), McCrone Research Institute, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Chairman. The Storers Trust (Cambridgeshire), 1998-present.

Honors:

Honorary Member (1984-), Keynes College, University of Kent at Canterbury.

Member (1992-) of the New York Academy of Sciences.

Fellow (1986-) of Cardiff University.

Kohler medal, State Microscopical Society of Illinois, 1997.

Royal Literary Fellow (1999-2001) at The Open University.

Numerous awards for scientific photography, etc.

Memberships:

Fellow (1963) Royal Microscopical Society.

Life Member (1989), member of Council (1998) Friends of Cambridge University Library.

Life Member (1992), Cambridge University Society for Cognitive Research.

Member (1992), History of Science Society, USA

Member (1997), Microscopical Society of America, USA

E-mail: bjford@sciences.org.uk

Web site: www.brianjford.com

Achievements include pioneering work on public understanding of science, through newspapers, magazine, radio and television; research in theory of development of life from prebiotic molecules in outer space; research in interdisciplinary science, plant physiology, microbial ecology, hemostatic mechanisms, biohazard, science education, development of science, history of microscope.