Mike Leahy — biologist

Mike Leahy left school by "mutual agreement" while studying for his final high school exams and began an apprenticeship as a motor mechanic. Leahy was an active member of the environmental movement during the late 80s and early 90s, and while still a mechanic, he studied for a biology degree at night school. At the age of 26, armed with a high school degree, he left his work in mechanics to study for a degree in environmental biology at Oxford Brookes University and gained a honors degree within two years. Leahy moved on to Oxford University where he earned a doctorate in virology. With 14 publications in international journals, he is now considered a leader in the field of influenza virus replication.