This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast marks the 100th birthday of the late IVF pioneer Professor Sir Robert Edwards, known widely (and affectionately) as 'Bob'.
The podcast explores Bob's life and legacy, including the dramatisation of his work with Patrick Steptoe and Jean Purdy in the film Joy.
The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Dr Jenny Joy (Bob's daughter)
⚫ Professor Barry Bavister (the first person ever to witness IVF in humans, while working alongside Bob in 1968)
⚫ Alastair MacDonald (the second person ever born who was conceived via IVF)
⚫ Grace MacDonald (Alastair's mother, who gave birth to him in 1979)
⚫ Professor Geraldine Hartshorne (completed her PhD under Bob's supervision in 1988, and is now Scientific Director of the Coventry Centre for Reproductive Medicine)
⚫ Jane Blower (President of the Association of Reproductive and Clinical Scientists)
⚫ Professor Alfonso Martínez Arias (Research Professor at the Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies and at Pompeu Fabra University)
⚫ Professor Nick Hopwood (Professor of History of Science and Medicine at the University of Cambridge)
PET is grateful to the Association of Reproductive and Clinical Scientists for supporting this discussion.
PET is also grateful to Jon Nicoll, who created the opening and closing music for its podcast.
Register at https://www.progress.org.uk/events/upcoming-events/ for upcoming PET events.