10th July 2001: "Magnetic Venture"

From a shed in an Oxford garden, a company grew over four decades into an international organisation pioneering developments in superconductivity and medical devices. Oxford Instruments has been rightly celebrated as one of Britain's greatest science and technology success stories.

Audrey Wood, the co-founder of Oxford Instruments with her husband Martin, will describe the ups and downs, the mistakes and successes that they experienced in establishing the first of many Oxford University science-based 'spin-off' companies.

Audrey Wood remained a director of the company until 1983 when it went public. At various times, Audrey Wood was in charge of the company's administration, finance, marketing, and publicity. She travelled to Russia, Eastern and Western Europe, the USA, Japan and Australia. In 1985, Audrey and Martin Wood founded the Oxford Trust, a charity that encourages the study and application of science and technology through initiatives such as CuRioxiTy, Oxford's hands-on science exhibition, and Oxford Innovation, a company that encourages economic growth in Oxford's science and engineering industries.

Come along and join us at 7pm in Blackwells Main Bookshop, Broad Street, Oxford.
No ticket, no booking, no scientific background required.

• Magnetic Venture