Queen rock legend May made varsity chancellor
Brian May, lead guitarist from rock band Queen who has just completed a doctorate in astrophysics was named as the next chancellor to Liverpool John Moores University.
LONDON: Brian May, lead guitarist from rock band Queen who has just completed a doctorate in astrophysics, was on Monday named as the next chancellor to Liverpool John Moores University.
May, who will take up the role next year, became an honorary fellow of the university earlier this year in recognition of his contribution to arts and for encouraging public understanding of science with his book Bang! The Complete History of the Universe.
The university said it was a tribute to May, 60, that he had gone back to finish his doctorate after leaving his studies in his mid-20s to pursue a career in rock music.
“Not only is Brian an icon in his own sphere but he is a real academic star as well,” said the chairman of the university’s board, Sir Malcolm Thornton, in a statement. “He perfectly embodies the ‘can do’ attitude of LJMU; he is going to be a great Chancellor for the students and a wonderful figurehead for the University.”
May said in the statement that it was an honour and a great challenge to take up the new position. May was studying astrophysics at Imperial College, London, when he formed Queen with singer Freddie Mercury and drummer Roger Taylor in 1970.
He dropped his doctorate research into interstellar dust as the band met with increasing success.
In October this year, May completed his PhD thesis “A Survey of Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud.”
May will be the fourth chancellor of the university and follows Cherie Booth, the wife of the former prime minister Tony Blair, who held the position from 1999 to 2006.
May, who will take up the role next year, became an honorary fellow of the university earlier this year in recognition of his contribution to arts and for encouraging public understanding of science with his book Bang! The Complete History of the Universe.
The university said it was a tribute to May, 60, that he had gone back to finish his doctorate after leaving his studies in his mid-20s to pursue a career in rock music.
“Not only is Brian an icon in his own sphere but he is a real academic star as well,” said the chairman of the university’s board, Sir Malcolm Thornton, in a statement. “He perfectly embodies the ‘can do’ attitude of LJMU; he is going to be a great Chancellor for the students and a wonderful figurehead for the University.”
May said in the statement that it was an honour and a great challenge to take up the new position. May was studying astrophysics at Imperial College, London, when he formed Queen with singer Freddie Mercury and drummer Roger Taylor in 1970.
He dropped his doctorate research into interstellar dust as the band met with increasing success.
In October this year, May completed his PhD thesis “A Survey of Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud.”
May will be the fourth chancellor of the university and follows Cherie Booth, the wife of the former prime minister Tony Blair, who held the position from 1999 to 2006.