Profile

Photo:

Paul Vickers

    • About Me:

      I live with my wife in Northumberland. We have three children and two grandchildren. By day I’m a Professor of Computer Science and Sonification. I love music, tech, fish and chips, and Byzantine chant!

    • Read more

      I’ve loved electronic music from an early age and was fortunate to combine this with a teenage interest in computers when I pursued PhD research into data sonification (turning data into sound). I enjoy teaching and doing computer programming — the rush from bending a computer to do your will is great! My job has enabled me to travel to some exotic places including Australia, Malaysia, the UAE, and America. I’m also a Reader in the Eastern Orthodox Church, hence my growing love for Byzantine Chant.

    • My Work:

      I teach and conduct research in computer science at Northumbria University (in Newcastle) where I am a Professor. I teach computer programming (coding) and cyber security and I love turning data into sound and music. I’m currently using and teaching Python and C for teaching programming and for my own research.

    • Read more

      I love teaching computer programming (coding) and have even written text books for absolute beginners. I also teach cyber security, that is, how to keep our computers safe from hackers. I conduct research into data sonification which is how we can turn data into sound so that we can listen to it. I’m currently working with Physicists, Mathematicians, Astronomers, and Composers to understand how we can use data sonification in a range of application areas.

    CV

    • Education:

      I went to Hitchin Boys School (comprehensive), then Liverpool Polytechnic, then Loughborough University.

      I had a really strong interest in computers (I bought a BBC Micro Model B with my Saturday job money in 1983) and so was able to get onto a brand new Computer Studies degree course at Liverpool Polytechnic (now Liverpool John Moores University). I had finally found my niche and loved the course and came away with a first class degree. They then hired me as a Lecturer to help teach on the course!

      After five years of lecturing I decided I wanted to pursue a PhD, so I undertook one part-time at Loughborough University where I researched how turning running programming code into music could help people find errors in their programs. I was awarded my PhD in 2000. This was my first experience of doing Data Sonification which I have enjoyed researching ever since.

    • Qualifications:

      O Levels (1983): Maths, English Language, English Literature, Physics, Geography, History, French, Music.

      A Levels (1985): I studied History, French, and Music. But I was quite unsure of myself and didn’t enjoy it very much so I ended up passing only two of my A Levels.

      Degree (1989) BSc Computer Studies, Liverpool Polytechnic

      PhD (2000) Data Sonification, Loughborough University.

    • Work History:

      1. Age 16–18: Saturday job in a local shoe shop
      2. 1987–1988 Software Engineer at Digital Equipment Co., Ltd (degree sandwich placement)
      3. 1989–1993 Lecturer II — Liverpool Polytechnic/Liverpool John Moores University
        • 1992 Acting Course Leader — BSc Computer Studies
      4. 1993–2000: Senior Lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University
        • Final-year Projects Tutor
        • Programme Leader BSc (Hons) Computer Studies
        • 1996–98 Franchise Lead (Penang National College, Malaysia)
        • 1999–2001 Franchising: Al Khawarizmi Centre (Abu Dhabi) & Computer Centre (Dubai)
        • 1999–2001 Admissions Tutor
      5. 2000–2001 Principal Lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University
      6. 2001–2005 Principal Lecturer at Northumbria University
      7. 2005–2016 Reader at Northumbria University
      8. 2016–2021 Associate Professor at Northumbria University

    • Current Job:

      2021–data Professor of Computer Science and Sonification at Northumbria University

    • Employer:

      Northumbria University, Department of Computer and Information Sciences.

    • My Interview

      • How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

        nerdy musical techie

        What did you want to be after you left school?

        I actually had no idea!

        If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?

        I think I'd be a computer programmer working on audio technology.

        Who is your favourite singer or band?

        David Bowie.

        What's your favourite food?

        Almost anything from south-east Asia. :-)

        Tell us a joke.

        There are 10 kinds of people in the world. Those who understand binary numbers and those who do not.

What’s happening in your zone!

  • No items to show