Brian J. Ford

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Brian J. Ford is an English independent scientist, prolific author and popular interpreter of scientific issues for the general populace, whose scientific papers and numerous books have been published internationally. He is also a TV celebrity and lecturer in many countries. Professor Ford is a Fellow of Cardiff University, Member of Gonville and Caius College, University of Cambridge, Honorary member of Keynes College, University of Kent, former Fellow at the Open University and Visiting Professor at the University of Leicester. He joined Mensa more than 30 years ago and has served as a director of British Mensa. Ford was the first British President of the European Union of Science Journalists Associations (Brussels) and founding Chairman of the Science and Technology Writers Committee at the Society of Authors (London). Ford is a long-standing Fellow of the Linnean Society, serving as Zoological Secretary for many years and is the Society's honorary surveyor of scientific instruments. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Biology, a former member of council and Chairman of the I.O.B. history network. Ford edited the book "The first fifty years" ISBN 0900490373 which is devoted to the history of the Institute of Biology. He is also a member of council of the Cambridge Society for the Application of Research (SAR) and a Fellow of Cambridge Philosophical Society and has lectured to all the above mentioned bodies. Among many awards, in 2004 he was awarded a Fellowship by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and Art, NESTA (London).

Brian J. Ford introducing the Da Vinci Code documentary by Shine Television, 2006.
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Brian J. Ford introducing the Da Vinci Code documentary by Shine Television, 2006.

Contents

[edit] Work and Ideas

Many of Ford's scientific ideas have changed our way of looking at life. He views the cell as a sentient being with a mind of its own and looks at microorganisms, largely, as confederates instead of foes. His campaigning stance over issues like opiates in retail medicines, like his detailed criticisms of the mis-use of forensic data in courts[1], have resulted in new laws being passed. Ford's current publications range from innovative microbial research [2] and elucidating newly threatening infections [3] to examining scientists' dissatisfaction with their lot.[4] Other areas of his interests are the invention of a space microscope for the European Space Agency [5], safety of the water supply [6] and the rising incidence of head lice [7] and bed bugs[8], his discovery of new phenomena in blood coagulation [9], the excretory mechanisms of plants [10] and investigations of the 'ingenuity' of living cells [11] that alter our understanding of the living cell. Ford's proposal for biohazard legislation led to supportive articles in 'Nature (journal)' and 'The Times' and has led to the introduction of world-wide controls[[12]]. His scientific papers on the development of science are often remarkably detailed, notably an essay on scientific illustration [13] and an extraordinary 18,000-word essay on scientific publishing in the eighteenth century [14] which is the definitive source for academics. One of his best known discoveries is the original specimens of Antony van Leeuwenhoek. They were sent to the Royal Society of London in the seventeenth century and remained there until Ford found them in 1981 [15] and submitted them to extensive microscopical examination using both old and new microscopes.

Ford has been active in the diplomatic and political field and travels extensively. He is in demand as a chairman and keynote speaker at conferences and also as a popular lecturer. He is also renowned as a writer contributing to The Times, the Daily Telegraph and the Evening Standard, also writing for journals including the British Medical Journal, Nature (journal), and Scientific American. Ford, who as a student had a weekly science column on the South Wales Echo, has since contributed columns for the Mensa Magazine, Boz magazine, The Listener and The Guardian. Like his research, his scientific journalism shares the common characteristic of pointed non-specialization. As he states, “All my life I have tried to act as a catalyst to cross boundaries, an agent of interdisciplinary innovation.” [16]

Television and radio programmes feature Ford, who has been a regular guest on the BBC intellectual programme "Round Britain Quiz" and has appeared on "Any Questions?". Ford presented his own well-reviewed BBC series "Science Now" and his documentary programmes "Where Are You Taking Us?" on radio which won him nomination for the Italia Prize. He also hosted the BBC series Kaleidoscope (Radio series) and was a founder-member of Start the Week on Radio Four with Esther Rantzen and Richard Baker (broadcaster). Many of his programmes involve proffering unrehearsed answers to the public on scientific topics, as on the Cliff Michelmore series "Whatever you think" (BBC) and "Science hour" with Clive Bull ( for LBC). On television he hosted a game show "Computer Challenge" and the documentary series "Food for Thought" in Britain and "Jensheits das Kanals" in Germany. His recent TV appearances include presenting "The Man Behind the da Vinci Code" and featuring in "Weird Weapons of World War II", based on his two books about WW2 (see below).

In addition to scientific research and academic lectures, Ford lectures extensively to general audiences, in the form of one-man shows on current scientific issues. A long-time science newspaper and magazine columnist, Ford's books have been published in more than 100 editions in many countries. Those in English are listed below.

[edit] Trivia

Ford's first television appearances included playing boogie piano on "Donald Peers Presents", from Cardiff, Wales. Also in the show was the first appearance of Thomas Woodward, latterly known as Tom Jones (singer). Ford was a newspaper columnist before going to Cardiff University, and has since contributed columns to "Boz" magazine, the "Mensa magazine", "the Listener" (formerly published by the BBC) and has written for "the Guardian", "The Times" and other newspapers. Ford is a popular guest speaker on cruise ships including the Cunard Line ship RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 and for Seabourn Cruise Line has spoken aboard the Seabourn Spirit. He is a guest of P&O on vessels such as MV Aurora and the Arcadia (cruise ship); for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines on the Black Watch and Braemar (ship); aboard the Regatta on Oceania cruise line, and for Celebrity Cruises among many others. His presentations are dynamic and largely extemporized.

One characteristic manifestation of Ford's iconoclastic streak is displayed in the title of one of his books, which he intentionally gave the longest and most complex title in English-language publishing history: Nonscience and the Pseudotransmogrificationalific Egocentrified Reorientational 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, London: Wolfe Publishing (ISBN 0-72340449-6). The point of the sesquipedalian title was to poke fun at those who conceal their lack of real expertise by using long and complicated words, whilst making the serious point that more people are fooled by these so-called experts than really should be. The book is commonly referred to simply as Nonscience, which is itself a play on nonsense.

Also worthy of note is that Ford has also been a rock & roll keyboards player. He played with guitarist Dave Edmunds and has occasionally performed in recent years. Ford has been active in the diplomatic and political world and is a trained marksman. He can pilot aeroplanes, ski and scuba-dive. He is also an award-winning photographer.

[edit] Books written by Brian J. Ford

  • German secret weapons, blueprint for Mars, ISBN 0356030342. Australia, South Africa, & New Zealand, Macdonald.
  • Allied Secret Weapons, ISBN 035603746. Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, Macdonald, 1971.
  • New edition: Allied secret weapons, the war of science, ISBN 345097581. UK, Pan Books, 1972.
  • The revealing lens, mankind and the microscope, ISBN 0245510168. UK, George Harrap, 1973.
  • Microbe power, tomorrow's revolution, ISBN 0356083845. UK, Macdonald and Jane's, 1976.
  • Microbe power, tomorrow's revolution, ISBN 0812860063. USA, Scarborough Books, 1978.
  • Patterns of sex, the mating urge and our sexual future, ISBN 0354043757. UK, Macdonald and Janes, 1979.
  • Lensman microscope project manual. UK, Science of Cambridge, 1989.
  • Microbe power, tomorrow's revolution, ISBN 0912819365. USA, Madison Books, 1992.
  • My first encyclopedia of science, ISBN 0862729440. UK, Kingfisher Books, 1993.
  • The new Guinness book of records quiz book, ISBN 0-851126359. UK, Guinness Publishing, 1994.
  • Microbe power, tomorrow's revolution, ISBN 0812860063. USA, Scarborough Books, 1994
  • Secret language of life, how animals and plants feel and communicate, ISBN 0880642548. USA, Fromm International, 2000.

[edit] Books as co-author

  • The recovery, removal, and reconstruction of human skeletal remains, some new techniques, chapter in Field manual for museums, ISBN 04543-7100. Paris, UNESCO, 1970.
  • Récuperation, enlèvement et reconstitution des ossements, chapter in Musées et recherches sur le terrain, ISBN 19258-0899. Paris, UNESCO, 1970.
  • Brian J Ford explains why he considers Cardiff the most unappreciated city in the world, chapter in The Cardiff book, ISBN 0900807059. Barry: Stewart Williams Publishers, 1973.
  • Discharge to the environment of viruses in wastewater, sludges and aerosols, chapter with JS Slade in Viral pollution of the environment, ed: G Berg, ISBN 0849362458. Boca Raton, CRC Press, 1983.
  • Sexually transmitted diseases, chapter in Sex and Your health ed J Bevan, ISBN 0855335718. London, Mitchell Beazley, 1985.
  • Las Enfermedades de Transmisión Sexual y Otras que las Imitan, chapter in El Sexo y la Salud ed J Bevan, ISBN 8432045705. Barcelona, Editorial Planeta, 1985.
  • Sexually transmissible diseases and their mimics, chapter in Sex and Your health, ed J Bevan ISBN 074930469. London, Mandarin Books, 1990.
  • Eighteenth-century scientific publishing, chapter in Scientific books, libraries and collectors, ISBN 1859282334. London, Thornton & Tully, 2000.
  • Hidden secrets in the Royal Society archive, chapter 3 in Biological collections and biodiversity, eds BS Rushton, P Hackney and CR Tyrie, ISBN 1841030058. Otley, Westbury Academic and Scientific Publishing, 2001.
  • Human behaviour and the changing pattern of disease, chapter in The changing face of disease, implications for society, ISBN 0415322804. London and Boca Raton, CRC Press, 2004.

[edit] Books of which Ford is editor

  • Science Diary, annually 1967-1974. London, Charles Letts.
  • GM crops, the scientists speak, by Sir Sam Edwards (physicist), Professor Malcolm Grant, Mr Colin Merritt, Sir John Marsh, Professor Joe N Perry, Professor Mike Gasson, Sir Brian Heap (hardback) ISBN 0954359526. Cambridge, Rothay House, 2003.
  • The second mouse gets the cheese, proverbs and their uses by Sir Colin Spedding (hardback) ISBN 0954359542. Cambridge, Rothay House, 2005.

[edit] Other authors' reminiscences, etc., on Ford

  • Stewart Williams, on Ford as club pianist, illustrated by photograph by John Couch. [1] Reported in "Days and nights of hot jazz in Cardiff", South Wales Echo, November 11, 1977.
  • Brian Aldiss describes Ford lecturing in Bury my heart at WH Smith's. [5]
  • David Parry-Jones refers to Ford on television, with photograph, in Action Replay. [6]
  • Professor Philippe Boutibonnes describes Ford's work on the Leeuwenhoek microscopes. [7]
  • Sir Colin Spedding discusses Ford on innovation. [8]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Stewart Williams (1977). The Cardiff Book. Cardiff: Stewart Williams Publishers, pp 69-71. ISBN 0900807059.
  2. ^ Kenneth Williams (1983). Back Drops. London: Dent, p 8. ISBN 0460045830.
  3. ^ Germaine Greer (1984). Sex and Destiny. London: Secker & Warburg, p 107. ISBN 0436188015.
  4. ^ Victor Serebriakoff (1985). Mensa: the society for the highly intelligent. London: Constable, p 255. ISBN 0812830911.
  5. ^ Brian Aldiss (1990). Bury my heart at WH Smith's. London: Hodder & Stoughton, pp 118-119. ISBN 0340536616.
  6. ^ David Parry-Jones (1993). Action Replay. Cardiff: Gomer Press, pp 91-92. ISBN 185902016X.
  7. ^ Philippe Boutibonnes (1994). Un savant, une époque, van Leeuwenhoek, l’exercice du regard. ISBN 2701116333.
  8. ^ Colin Spedding (1996). Agriculture and the citizen. London: Chapman & Hall, pp 222-223. ISBN 0412715201.

[edit] External links

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