Georgina Ferry interviews Tony Brett, Director of Medical Sciences Division IT Services, 28 February 2023.
Topics discussed include (00:00:23) early interest in science, degree in chemistry at Oxford, interest in IT and computers and work at Oxford at the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, roles at Corpus Christi and OUCS; (00:05:09) challenges in supporting academics; (00:07:11) scope of IT services across the university, demands on services as research becomes more data focused; (00:08:55) data centres; (00:12:18) first awareness of COVID-19; (00:14:05) impact on the Medical Sciences Division, including providing hardware and support to people working remotely, relationship with National Cyber Security Centre; (00:17:30) Early Alert Service; (00:23:10) big data studies; (00:23:45) investigating new technologies; (00:25:43) recruitment during the pandemic; (00:27:27) collaboration across departments; (00:28:45) interactions with IT teams in other universities; (00:30:31) success of the Early Alert Service; (00:33:15) current work; (00:36:05) personal threat from COVID-19; (00:37:35) changes to working hours, wellbeing; (00:40:22) social distancing regulations and impact on the MSD IT team; (00:43:01) lessons from the pandemic, including a paperless office; (00:46:01) Oxford transport, including cycling safety; (00:50:00) reflections on the pandemic; (00:51:17) changes to work perspective as a result of the pandemic.
