Vivienne Parry
{{short description|British science journalist and author (born 1956)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Vivienne Parry
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|OBE|size=100}}
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =Vivienne Mary Hunt Mills
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1956|06|04|df=y}}
| birth_place = Portsmouth, England, UK
| education = St Swithun's School, Winchester
| alma_mater = Bedford College, London
University College London
| nationality =
| other_names =
| awards = Suffrage Science award (2011)
| known_for =
| website = {{Official URL}}}}
Vivienne Mary Hunt Parry {{post-nominals|country=GBR|OBE}} (born Vivienne Mary Hunt Mills on 4 June 1956 in Portsmouth) is a British science journalist and author, currently{{when|date=November 2020}} employed as head of engagement at Genomics England.{{cite web |url=http://www.vparry.co.uk/ |title=Official website |website=www.vparry.co.uk |format=PDF|access-date=2020-11-25}} She is most well known for presenting BBC Television science programme Tomorrow's World and Panorama. She is also a regular contributor to The Guardian newspaper's online presence.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bayercropscience.com/bcsweb/cropprotection.nsf/id/sf06_parry|title=Biography}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/profile/vivienneparry|title=Vivienne Parry | The Guardian|website=the Guardian}}
Early life
Parry was educated at St Swithun's School, Winchester, an independent girls' school. She studied Zoology at Bedford College, London graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1978,{{Cite web|url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2009/mar/ucl-launches-sector-specific-professional-networking-events|title=UCL launches sector-specific professional networking events|date=12 March 2009|website=UCL News}} 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 Gynaecologists from 1979 to 1994. She worked closely with the charity's Patron, the Princess of Wales, for 12 years.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12093630 |title=New Year Honours: Astronaut Piers Sellers becomes OBE |publisher=BBC News |date=31 December 2010 |access-date=30 October 2011}}
She briefly served as a trustee of the Princess of Wales Memorial Fund.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/59064.stm |title=Diana fund to set up new Web site and US office |publisher=BBC News |date=22 February 1998 |access-date=30 October 2011}}
She also served as vice chairman of council of University College London{{cite web |url=http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ras/acs/governance/council/membership/accordion2/parry |title=UCL Council - Ms Vivienne Parry, OBE (Vice Chair) |access-date=30 October 2011}} and was also a member of Council of the Medical Research Council{{cite web |url=http://www.mrc.ac.uk/About/Structure/Council/Membership/index.htm#P122_16679 |title=Medical Research Council - Membership |access-date=30 October 2011}} since 2009. In September 2017, she was appointed to the board of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).{{cite web | title=UKRI Board – UKRI | website=UKRI – UK Research and Innovation | date=2019-11-13 | url=https://www.ukri.org/about-us/governance-and-structure/uk-research-and-innovation-board/ | access-date=2020-11-25}}
In 1994, she became a presenter of the BBC TV science programme Tomorrow's World and also reported for Panorama. She left the programme in 1997.
Parry has presented a number of science-based radio shows, including most notably all eight series of Am I normal?{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/am_i_normal_series_3.shtml|title=BBC - Radio 4 - Am I Normal?|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/am_i_normal_series_6.shtml|title=BBC - Radio 4 - Am I Normal? - Series 6|website=www.bbc.co.uk}} and Inside the Ethics Committee. She also presents and writes many other radio programs, including programs for the BBC World Service and BBC Radio 3.
Publications
Her book The Truth About Hormones, published in January 2009, was nominated for the 2006 Aventis Science Prize, now called the Royal Society Prizes for Science Books. Other publications include:
Awards and honours
Parry received an Honorary Doctorate from Heriot-Watt University in 2012 {{Cite web|url=http://www.hw.ac.uk/news/archive/2012/higgs-boson-scientist.htm|title=Higgs Boson Scientist Awarded Heriot-Watt honorary degree|website=Heriot-Watt University|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-03-29}} She won the Suffrage Science award in 2011.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2013/feb/ucl-scientists-be-recognised-suffrage-science-event|title=UCL scientists to be recognised at Suffrage Science event|date=28 February 2013|website=UCL News}}
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.{{London Gazette |issue=59647 |date=31 December 2010 |page=12 |supp=y }}
Personal life
She married Paul Parry in 1978 in Hampshire. They have two sons, and divorced in 2007. In 2012, she married Tim Joss, who died in March 2024. {{Who's Who | author=Anon| title=Parry, Vivienne Mary Hunt | id = U245349 | year = 2017 | doi =10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U245349 | edition = online Oxford University Press|location=Oxford}}
References
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Category:Alumni of University College London
Category:BBC science journalists
Category:British science journalists
Category:The Guardian journalists
Category:News of the World people
Category:People educated at St Swithun's School, Winchester
Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire
Category:Writers from Portsmouth
Category:British women science writers
Category:British women television journalists