I was born and brought up in south Wales, moved to Bristol in the late 60's when I started nurse training, married, had a family and stayed. When my youngest son started school I wanted to return to studying. After considering various options, I decided to study physics - which I had enjoyed at school - with the OU. I graduated in 2004, after 10 years study - with an honours degree in Natural Science with Physics. However, this has not changed my life much (apart from joining the Fusion Committee), as I continue to work as a paediatric nurse at Bristol Children's Hospital, where I have worked for over 25 years. My other interests include reading, the theatre and membership of my local astronomical society.

I was born and brought up on the South Downs above Portsmouth in Hampshire. Portsmouth is a naval base and has been a source of employment for my father?s side of the family over many generations. Both sides of the family also found work in the local Gales brewery which was the home of HSB until gulped up by Fullers. This background should give you a clue to the influences running in my blood. I think I can trace back my interest in science to the time when, at about 11 years old my mother gave me a tatty old paperback telling the stories of discovery by people such as Louis Pasteur and Edward Jenner. I enjoyed the book so much it inspired me to want to become a scientist. However, I have not followed the medical route as during my journey through GCE ?O? levels I became more interested in the experiments we did in physics. After school I joined the scientific civil service and went on to obtain a HNC in electrical engineering.

After 34 years making a living as an antenna specialist for the Royal Navy I thought I had earned the right to broaden my knowledge in the many other new and exciting aspects of physics. The Open University seemed the ideal place to start which I did in 2002. With some credits to add to MST121, MS221, S207, SXR207, S357, S194, MST209 and hopefully SM358 and SMXR358 I should have a BSc degree at the end of 2007. After that I am planning (long term) to carry on until I have a BSc Hons degree in Physical science.

I am a ?carer?. The role started with my profoundly handicapped daughter, who now has her own place in a residential care home, but I continue as ?carer? for my wife who has a long term mental illness. In the spare time that I don?t use for studying I like to work on my allotment producing my own organic fruit and vegetables, helping to look after my wife?s geriatric pony and walking in the countryside. I also spend some time in researching my family tree. I also like to make my own wine from the apples and other fruit I grow and brew my own beer.

I am a maths student working my way through the MMath courses at the Open University, and also a computer programmer when I've not got assignments to hand in. I began studying maths with the OU ten years ago after realising that my interest in physics and mathematics generally could never be satisfied by reading popular accounts of the subject. It's not a spectator sport, you have to jump in and work things out for yourself. My interest was captured by the issue of non-computability and its significance in physics as popularised by Roger Penrose. I recently presented a paper on this subject at CASYS 2005 (and got a prize for it). It's an interesting topic and useful deductions can be made. I became involved with Fusion after attending the International Conference of Physics Students in Novi Sad, Serbia in 2004 and I also became a member of a committee at the Institute of Physics that put together a successful bid to host ICPS in the UK in 2007.

As well as being actively involved in the preparations for ICPS 2007 now that we've won the bid, I am also planning to pursue a PhD in mathematical physics. That however relies on me finding a University that will take someone who wants to prove that there can be no Unified Field Theory.

I don't have time for hobbies, but I do enjoy reading on a wide range of topics, from cheap trashy novels to Indian philosophical treaties, taking in the daily papers, historical studies, thoughtful political opinions, and anything that looks like it might be vaguely interesting.

I currently live and work in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. My occupation is as a cartographer for a large shipping company. I am 50 years of age and have been studying for a number of years with the Open University. I have nearly completed my BSc in physics, but will be going for a few years yet, as new subjects keep appearing. As you can see I am addicted, and I am presently doing the short course TT280 Web Design, Development and Management, which will eventually lead to the award of a certificate in web applications from the OU.

I started my career a long time ago with Birmingham housing department as a draughtsperson working, would you believe, on drawing boards and using pen and ink, the old fashioned way, which was slow - corrections were not as easy as it is on a computer today. I have done a variety of jobs since then, cleaning when my children were little, after that I designed fire alarm systems for a number of large companies. I moved to Yarmouth in early 1992 and have not regretted it for a moment, as the pace of life is so much different.

I was born in Australia, then forcibly transported to England at the tender age of 7. Not taking my education too seriously the first time around, I have been through many jobs of the ?Would you like fries with that?? nature. After a rather exciting ?Bungee jumping in Ibiza? phase I settled down to the serious business of being a Theatrical Wardrobe Mistress. This took me through plays and musicals, opera and dance to many of the country?s largest pantos (Oh yes it did!). Add to that an enjoyable stint as a scenic artist and my creative bent was sated.

Returning to my childhood ambition to be a ?newclar fizzicist? I took a job running a lab for a chemicals company in Malvern to get some practical lab experience and started studying sciences. Having grown weary of flocculants, I am now a Cover Supervisor at a secondary school whilst working through S207 towards my OU degree in Physics, which I?m hoping to complete some time around 2011.

?Physics is fun!? these were the words of my high school science teacher, Adrian Allchin. I believed him! Well, he didn?t lie to me and I have never regretted my involvement with the wonderful world of Physics and Astronomy.

I studied Physics and History at Keele University, before undertaking my Masters in Laser Physics at Essex. The next stage would have been a PhD but I got offered a job as a Graduate Engineer at the BBC, so I took that instead. They sent me to this small satellite set-up in Milton Keynes, called the Open University broadcasting centre and that is how I first discovered the OU.

After working my way from Electronic Engineer to Production Director, I left the BBC in 2003 and then joined the Physics and Astronomy Department as course manager in May 2005. My main role here is looking after S103, Discovering Science, S282, Astronomy and SXR208, Observing the Universe, the Mallorca-based residential school. Finally, I am also an Associate Lecturer in the Humanities, and have a keen interest in world cinema but then; there is no accounting for taste!

My interest in the sciences began in Junior School, where I was fortunate enough to have a teacher who believed that children learn most by practical experience, and who was willing to devote his own time to building equipment for his classes to use: the potter’s wheel was a great favourite! Progressing to grammar school I preferred Sciences to the Arts (though I enjoyed studying languages), and then opted for electronic engineering at University. My enthusiasm for study quickly waned, and I soon opted for employment instead, working as a QA technician in an electronics company close to my home in Dorset.
After marriage and having two children, I returned to work as a school laboratory technician, a role which would keep me occupied for some 25 years in both state and private sectors. I had always continued to learn by attending night-school, and in the mid ‘90s I decided it was time to try for a degree with the OU: after 9 years I was delighted to graduate with honours in Natural Sciences with Physics in 2004. My studies gave me confidence to try for new employment, and I now work as a forensic investigator with the Police, which is both fascinating and rewarding.
I live with my second husband in east Dorset, close to my daughter and grandchildren. Our shared interests are walking, singing, reading, and latterly producing the Fusion Newsletter.

Sybil started with the OU in 1971, and proceeded to a BA (Hons) in 1984.

She then spent ten years away from it, whislt working for the Geological Society.

She is still enthusiastic about the university, and has been invovled with OUSA (the Open University Students' Association) and its member societies since their inception.

Tom's biography coming soon!

I'm studying Physics with the OU, and am a musician (I play organ, harpsichord and french horn, and conduct orchestras and choirs), and work for IBM as an IT Architect and innovation SME. I also do a bit of webhosting and design for various societies, as a sideline. I'd always had an interest in physics but drifted away from it in my latter days at school (donkeys years ago..), having been beguiled by music. Latterly my interest has been revived - and so I've embarked on what might be called a large catch-up programme!

Part of my day-job with IBM also involves building relationships with some UK universities. A very interesting role which has involved mentoring undergraduates, participating in a senate approval panel for new taught MSc programmes, lecturing to postgraduates, and so on. I've been in IT for around 35 years now, though I took a year or so away to work as a stage manager and theatre lighting person in the early eighties.

I became involved with Fusion when reviving my OU study programme in 2008.

Music provides a bit of extra income, and a lot of interest, performing either as player or director, and occasionally teaching. I suppose after all that, the nearest thing I have to a hobby is flying (light aircraft), when time and money permit.

I live in t?e 'debatable lands' at the extreme north east of Cumbria in an isolated farmhouse. Debatable because over the centuries the area has often switched between Scotland and England. Though we've been here for four years now, it still seems very strange for someone who was born in London and brought up in places like Portsmouth, Cornwall, Kent, and Oxford!