Tom Shakespeare in Cyberspace
Photo: Jane Hodson
Biography
Born 1966 in Aylesbury. Two brothers. Graduated 1987 Pembroke College, Cambridge with BA (Honours) in Social and Political Sciences. Worked briefly as offset litho printer and as theatre administrator. M.Phil Social and Political Theory 1989 King's College, Cambridge. PhD on Conceptualising Disability 1994 King's College, Cambridge. Teenage children Ivy Broadhead and Robert Brown. Resident North East England since 1992. Married Caroline Bowditch 2002.
Wedding Day
Work
Between 1999 and 2005, I worked at the Policy, Ethics and Life Sciences Research Institute (PEALS), at the University of Newcastle, a collaboration with the International Centre for Life and the University of Durham to promote research and debate on the social and ethical aspects of the life sciences.
My projects have included Newcastle Cafe Scientifique; the Antenatal Screening Web Resource (see links below); research into how people make ethical decisions about genetics; research with people affected by restricted growth; and outreach work in Cumbria, and with the lesbian and gay community in the North East.
Research interests: disability studies, bioethics, medical sociology.
Formerly research fellow in sociology at the University of Leeds (1996-9), lecturer in sociology at the University of Sunderland (1993-6).
Since October 2005, I have only been working at PEALS one day per week, completing the restricted growth project and other work.
Until 2008, my main activity will be my NESTA Fellowship.
Arts and media
Writer and performer.
Curated three exhibitions of contemporary visual art at Hatton Gallery, Newcastle. Contributed critical essays to art catalogues.
Chaired public discussions and/or interviewed various scientists (eg Lewis Wolpert), writers (eg Sarah Dunant, Gillian Slovo) and composers (eg Michael Nyman)
Wrote and presented Ivy's Genes (Channel 4) and The Unusual Suspects (BBC) and Who Stole My Parking Space (Channel 4).
Regular contributor to radio and TV programmes.
Wrote and performed one person show, No Small Inheritance, in the RSC season at Newcastle's Live Theatre, November 2004 and again in 2005: revived show for two performances in 2006.
Board member, Monster Productions.
Chair of Arts Council of England North East Regional Council and member of national Arts Council since October 2004
Affiliations
Newcastle Quaker Meeting
Newcastle United FC
Collingwood AFL
Ivy, Caroline and River
Frequently Asked Questions
"Are you related?" Not sure. Family can be traced back to Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire in the 16th century.
"Why are you so small?" I have the genetic condition achondroplasia, like my father and my children, which is why I am 4 foot 5 inches tall.
"Greatest achievement?" Getting the the word "antidisestablishmentarianism" into an answer on BBC Question Time
Links
Listing of publications and links to my writing online
NESTA Fellowship: my news and updates
Ouch: my monthly disability column for the BBC
Antenatal Screening Web
Resource (ANSWER), our initiative
to provide balanced information about disability to women and men offered
antenatal
testing
Cafe Scientifique network: sparky conversations about science controversies in a cafe or bar near you
Contact
Work address: PEALS, Bioscience Centre, Times Square, Newcastle NE1 4EP
Frank (wants to go out)
Page last updated:
December 2006 Visitors since: