Vivienne Parry
Encyclopedia
Vivienne Mary Hunt Parry, OBE
(born Vivienne Mary Hunt Mills on 4 June 1956 in Portsmouth) is a science journalist.
, an independent girls' school. This is currently one of the best girls' schools in England.
She studied Zoology at Bedford College (London) graduating with a BSc
in 1978, majoring in immunology and genetics which she took at University College, London.
from 1979-94. She worked closely with the charity's Patron, HRH The Princess of Wales for 12 years.
She was briefly a Trustee of the Princess of Wales Memorial Fund
.
She is Vice Chairman of Council of UCL
and a member of Council of the Medical Research Council
since 2009.
. She also wrote columns for The Guardian
from 2004-5 and for The Times
Body and Soul supplement from 2005-9.
science programme 'Tomorrow's World
' and also reported for Panorama
. She left the programme in 1997.
and presents a wide range of documentaries on science and medicine including eight series of Am I Normal?
from 2006-10 and three series of Inside the Ethics Committee from 2005-7.
Parry was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours
for services to the public understanding of science.
She opens her garden under the National Gardens Scheme
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born Vivienne Mary Hunt Mills on 4 June 1956 in Portsmouth) is a science journalist.
Early life
She was educated at St Swithun's School, WinchesterSt Swithun's School, Winchester
St Swithun's School is an independent school for girls in Winchester, Hampshire. The school consists of St Swithun's Junior School and St Swithun's Senior School...
, an independent girls' school. This is currently one of the best girls' schools in England.
She studied Zoology at Bedford College (London) graduating with a BSc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in 1978, majoring in immunology and genetics which she took at University College, London.
Career
Her first job was as National Organiser of the mother and baby charity Birthright, the appeal arm of the Royal College of Obstetricians and GynaecologistsRoyal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is a professional association based in the UK. Its members, including people with and without medical degrees, work in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology, that is, pregnancy, childbirth, and female sexual and reproductive health...
from 1979-94. She worked closely with the charity's Patron, HRH The Princess of Wales for 12 years.
She was briefly a Trustee of the Princess of Wales Memorial Fund
Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund
The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund is an independent grant-giving foundation established in September 1997 after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, to continue her humanitarian work in the United Kingdom and overseas...
.
She is Vice Chairman of Council of UCL
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
and a member of Council of the Medical Research Council
Medical Research Council (UK)
The Medical Research Council is a publicly-funded agency responsible for co-ordinating and funding medical research in the United Kingdom. It is one of seven Research Councils in the UK and is answerable to, although politically independent from, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
since 2009.
Newspapers
She was the columnist of the News of the World for four years from 1998-2002 and combined this with writing for the Journal of Molecular BiologyJournal of Molecular Biology
The Journal of Molecular Biology is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published weekly by Elsevier. It covers original scientific research concerning studies of organisms or their components at the molecular level.- Notable articles :...
. She also wrote columns for The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
from 2004-5 and for The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
Body and Soul supplement from 2005-9.
Television
In 1994, she became a presenter of the BBC TVBBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
science programme 'Tomorrow's World
Tomorrow's World
Tomorrow's World was a long-running BBC television series, showcasing new developments in the world of science and technology. First aired on 7 July 1965 on BBC1, it ran for 38 years until it was cancelled at the beginning of 2003.- Content :...
' and also reported for Panorama
Panorama (TV series)
Panorama is a BBC Television current affairs documentary programme, which was first broadcast in 1953, and is the longest-running public affairs television programme in the world. Panorama has been presented by many well known BBC presenters, including Richard Dimbleby, Robin Day, David Dimbleby...
. She left the programme in 1997.
Radio
She is well known as a broadcaster with Radio 4BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
and presents a wide range of documentaries on science and medicine including eight series of Am I Normal?
Am I Normal?
"Am I Normal?" is a programme which is broadcast on Radio Four, presented byVivienne Parry. It enjoyed a brief airing on BBC television, when it was presented by Tanya Byron,but is more commonly presented on Radio Four. It deals with issues surrounding how far measures of characteristics, both...
from 2006-10 and three series of Inside the Ethics Committee from 2005-7.
Personal life
She married Paul Parry in 1978 in Hampshire. They divorced in 2007 and have two sons.Parry was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours
2011 New Year Honours
The New Year Honours 2011, principally for the United Kingdom but also the Commonwealth Realms, were announced on 31 December 2010 to celebrate the year passed and mark the beginning of 2011....
for services to the public understanding of science.
She opens her garden under the National Gardens Scheme
National Gardens Scheme
The National Gardens Scheme, was founded in 1927 in England with the aim of "opening gardens of quality, character and interest to the public for charity". Originally, the money was raised to provide pension support for district nurses; 609 private gardens were opened and £8,191 was raised.Over...
.
Publications
- The Truth About Hormones, ISBN 9781843544296, published January 2009 by Atlantic BooksAtlantic BooksAtlantic Books is an independent British publishing house, founded by Toby Mundy in 2000. Atlantic Books won the Imprint and Editor of the Year award at the British Books Awards in 2005 and 2009. It also was Independent Publisher of the Year in 2009....
- The Real Pregnancy Guide, 10 May 1996, ISBN 9780330332859, Pan BooksPan BooksPan Books is an imprint which first became active in the 1940s and is now part of the British-based Macmillan Publishers owned by German publishers, Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group....