Exeter Fellow Professor Dame Carol Robinson to feature on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs

Professor Dame Carol Robinson, Royal Society Research Professor, Dr Lee’s Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery at the University of Oxford, will share her life story on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, airing on Sunday 10 August 2025. She reflects candidly on her journey from leaving school at 16 to join Pfizer, to breaking barriers as the first woman to hold a Professorship of Chemistry at both Oxford and Cambridge. 

In the episode, Dame Carol selects eight tracks that trace the arc of her life, from early sparks of curiosity about chemistry to decades of groundbreaking work in mass spectrometry and moments of both joy and adversity.

She explains: “These aren’t just songs; they’re memories from my life. Each one immediately evokes recollections of the friends, family, colleagues, and research groups who’ve supported me along the way. I hope I haven’t forgotten anyone.” 

This appearance follows a distinguished career marked by leadership, innovation and mentorship. Listeners will discover how her unconventional early path shaped a world‑leading scientist committed to empowering the next generation. 

Tune in to BBC Radio 4 Desert Island Discs on Sunday 10 August, or catch the episode online at the BBC website.