When the first Engineering students began classes at Queen’s, the first stretch of railway line in Northern Ireland was just being laid. Since then, the educational horizons have widened – from rail and road to aerospace engineering and astrophysics. In this podcast Prof Máire O'Neill reflects on Queen's contribution to engineering and science over the years and today.

When Queen's College, Belfast, first opened its doors in 1845, the first students were all young men, now the Chancellor is a woman - Hillary Rodham Clinton. This podcast looks back at the seminal contributions women have made to Queen's University.

The names alone would fill a book: Bernard McLaverty, Sinead Morrissey, Stewart Parker, Edna Longley, Glenn Patterson, Paul Muldoon, Medbh McGuckian, Ciaran Carson….the list goes on and on.

But at its heart is Seamus Heaney and the creative energy of the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry, encouraging and inspiring new generations.

Presented by Professor Glenn Patterson

Medical research and education have been a cornerstone of Queen’s University since its foundation.Over the past 175 years, outstanding individuals have made their mark - Sir William Whitla, physician and philanthropist, helping our university build for the future - Professor Frank Pantridge, the father of emergency medicine – Professor Mollie McGeown, pioneer in kidney dialysis – Professor Paddy Johnston, reshaping cancer care throughout Northern Ireland. This podcast reflects on the contributions, Queen's has made to healthcare.

Presented by Roy Spence is Professor of Surgery at Queen’s and a Consultant Surgeon at Belfast City Hospital

For Queen’s University, the path to progress over the past 175 years has often been uneven. But the story of Queen’s is one of remarkable growth - from 20 professors and 195 students in 1849 to today’s figures of 2,400 academic staff and 25,000 students.

Presented by Dr Andrew Holmes, a reader in the school of History, Anthropology, Archeology and Politics

From the early days, Queen’s has been an eager member of a global network of scholarship and it continues to set the pace today.

Podcast presenter: David Livingstone is Professor of Geography and Intellectual History at Queen’s. His books include The Geographical Tradition, Putting Science in its Place, Adam’s Ancestors and Dealing with Darwin.