Venki Ramakrishnan and Andrew Scott chaired by Paul Nuki

Nobel prize-winning molecular biologist Professor Sir Venki Ramakrishnan and economist Professor Andrew Scott discuss the science of living longer and how an ageing society is one of the most significant challenges facing the world.

Ramakrishnan shared the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on the structure and function of the ribosome, a tiny structure where protein synthesis happens in the body. He runs the Ramakrishnan Lab at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge. In Why We Die: The New Science of Ageing and the Quest for Immortality, he looks at why we age and die and whether there is anything we can do about it. He says giant strides are being made in our understanding of why some species live longer than others and he looks at whether death serves a necessary biological purpose and how we can increase our chances of leading a long and healthy life. Ramakrishnan’s previous book, the scientific memoir Gene Machine, was published in 2018 to critical acclaim.

Scott is co-founder of The Longevity Forum and professor of economics at London Business School. In The Longevity Imperative: Building a Better Society for Healthier, Longer Lives, he calls for a revolution in the way we think about health, ageing and the future. We are all expected to live longer than previous generations, but this is often seen as a burden on society. Scott says we must seize the opportunity to pursue a more sustainable lifestyle and invest in our finances, health and skills to support healthier life and a healthier planet.

Discussions are chaired by journalist and editor Paul Nuki, global health security editor at The Telegraph. He was previously Focus editor, deputy news editor, money editor, personal finance editor, consumer affairs editor, deputy Insight editor and reporter at The Sunday Times and was founding chief editor of NHS Choices.

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