John Radford was the Founding Head of the School of Psychology at the University of East London, the first major Department of Psychology outside the university sector. The School is now one of the largest in the UK, ranked in the top 50% and is known for pioneering professional training and impactful research. John Radford led the introduction of Psychology as a GCE ‘A’ Level subject. From an initial 120 students in 1971 there are now (2021) over 68,000, making it the second most popular subject. In view of the great increase in demand, John, with James Breese, founded the Association for the Teaching of Psychology. In acknowledgement of these and numerous other activities, including many books and papers, he was made an Honorary Life Member of the British Psychological Society, and was the first recipient of the Society’s two awards in education and teaching in Psychology.

In this lecture John Radford will explain why, after 60 years in Psychology, he regards it as a ‘liberal science’, with a vital role to play in education, and essential to the changes in human behaviour we must make if we are to overcome the many unprecedented threats we now face as a species.

John Radford was appointed to West Ham College of Technology in 1965 specifically to develop new degree courses in Psychology. The very first intake of students, including many who had been rejected by universities or otherwise missed out on higher education, obtained degrees comparable to those of the established departments of Psychology in the University of London, resulting in considerable national publicity. West Ham College later formed a constituent part of North East London Polytechnic, which in turn became the University of East London. John Radford lived in Newham before moving to Tower Hamlets. For nine years he served as a Governor of a group of secondary schools in Newham.

John has published a score of books and numerous papers. Details can be found at www.uel.ac.uk/staff/r/john-radford. At ninety he remains convinced of the value of Psychology as a scientific discipline, a subject of study, and a profession. https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-25/edition-12/interview-adapt-or-perish-%E2%80%93-understand-ourselves

The Lecture is open to all who are interested. The event will be on campus in limited numbers and livestreamed via MS Teams.

Further information from Professor Ian Tucker (i.tucker@uel.ac.uk)

and Professor Aneta Tunariu (a.tunariu@uel.ac.uk)

A Liberal Science - The First John Radford Public Lecture