Martin Rees Interviewed by Nick Higham

Astronomer Royal Professor Lord Martin Rees talks about his life’s work and receives the festival’s science and innovation award in recognition of his contribution to our understanding of the Universe.

Rees is an astrophysicist and cosmologist, a former director of Cambridge’s Institute of Astronomy, a former master of Trinity College Cambridge, and a former president of the Royal Society. He has been Astronomer Royal since 1995. Rees’s research has been in areas such as galaxy formation, black holes, whether we live in a multiverse, and the possibility of detecting extraterrestrial life. His book On the Future: Prospects for Humanity, reflects his recent concern about global issues and how we need to harness technologies such as biotechnology, cybertechnology, robotics and artificial intelligence in a positive way to solve the challenges we face.

In his latest book, If Science is to Save Us, he argues that there has never been a more important time for humanity to ‘follow the science’, nor has there been a time when we had such capacity to determine the future of the planet.

Rees is the second recipient of the science and innovation award. Last year’s award went to the Oxford Vaccine Group in recognition of its successful work on the AstrtaZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. Here he talks to journalist Nick Higham, who was the BBC’s first ever media correspondent and is a former presenter of Meet the Author on the BBC news channel.

Owen Mumford Ltd are supporters of the festival’s annual science and innovation award.