The Secret Genius of Modern Life – Behind the scenes

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Join us as we explore behind the scenes of the BBC/OU coproduction The Secret Genius of Modern Life.

Welcome to a world where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, where everyday objects are unveiled as a masterpiece of human innovation. Today, we invite you to go behind the scenes and discover "The Secret Genius of Modern Life."Returning for its second series, Professor Hannah Fry takes us on a captivating journey through the marvels that surround us every day. The show peels back the layers of our technology-driven lives, exposing the remarkable stories of invention, dedication, and brilliance that brought them to fruition. In this behind the scenes event, we will hear from the Open University academics who were consultants on the programme, along with the BBC series producer to explain how the series is made. We will also hear from Hannah herself as she shares via pre-recorded video why the programmes is unlike other science based programmes and shares her insight into the show’s success. Prepare to be amazed, enlightened, and inspired as you delve into the fascinating world of "The Secret Genius of Modern Life" and join us in celebrating the wonders of the modern world and this fantastic BBC/ OU co-production.

Meet the panel:

Dr Julia CookeJulia is the STEM Associate Dean, External Engagement and Enterprise, facilitating Knowledge Exchange across the Faculty. She is a plant ecologist, who uses traits to explore plant ecological strategies, with a primary interest in plant silicon. Julia teaches at all undergraduate levels, with both face to face and distance teaching experience.

Eileen InksonEileen Inkson is an award winning Series Producer and part of the core production team within the BBC Studios Science Unit. She has made programmes for the BBC, Channel 4 and YouTube and in her twenty plus year TV career has worked on everything from the renowned child development series Child of Our Time to the audience smash hit CatWatch. She was an integral part of the team that initially developed The Secret Genius of Modern Life and has now successfully steered both Series 1 and 2 to broadcast.

Dr Derek JonesDerek Jones is a Senior Lecturer in Design at The Open University (UK) and part of the OU Design Group. He is co-lead for the new design degree and has developed a number of online learning technologies in design education. His main research interests are: the pedagogy of design and creativity, embodied cognition in physical and virtual environments, and theories of design knowledge. Derek is the Convenor of the Design Research Society’s Education special interest group and a qualified architect with 15 years of experience in the construction design and procurement industries.

Dr Andrew PotterAndrew is a Senior Lecturer and Staff Tutor in Mathematics and Statistics. He has been at the Open University since 2014 in various roles, including as an Associate Lecturer and as Deputy Associate Dean (Academic Excellence). Before that, he was a mathematics teacher in secondary and further education. He became one of two Media Fellows in the STEM Faculty earlier this year, and in that role coordinates the Faculty’s informal learning activities in broadcast media and OpenLearn. Andrew is passionate about making STEM learning accessible and inclusive to everyone.

Professor David SharpDavid Sharp is Professor of Musical Acoustics in the School of Engineering &amp; Innovation at the Open University. His research interests are in musical acoustics, in particular measuring and evaluating the playing characteristics of woodwind and brass instruments. Meanwhile, he has made extensive teaching contributions across the curriculum areas of engineering, mathematics and music technology.David has also carried out numerous outreach activities. He regularly delivers interactive talks on the science of sound to local schoolchildren and the general public, and has featured on various TV and radio programmes. He has also acted as academic consultant on several BBC series, including Coast, Sound Waves: The Symphony of Physics, and currently The Secret Genius of Modern Life.

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