RSA Angus Millar Lecture 2012: A Vision for the Future of Science

In the 2012 Angus Millar Lecture at the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh, Lord Rees argues that science will play a major role in solving the urgent challenges of the 21st century.

2012 Angus Millar Lecture

Professor Martin Rees, Lord Rees of Ludlow, has won many awards for his outstanding contributions to the fields of astrophysics and cosmology, provided leadership for the Royal Society and the Institute of Astronomy at the University of Cambridge, whilst also making an enormous impact on the public understanding of science through many of his books, lectures and news articles.

In the 2012 Angus Millar Lecture, Lord Rees argues that science will play a major role in solving the urgent challenges of the 21st century.

In order to shape a more responsible debate over complex global issues such as population growth, healthcare, energy policy and climate change, scientists must take seriously their duty to engage fully with the public, and citizens must develop a “feel” for science - the one truly global culture - and engage directly with research rather than relying on the interpretations of pundits and politicians.

Lord Rees shows that we can only meet the new challenges and risks we face by devising strategies with a long-term, global perspective. Offering insights into the prospects for future discoveries, he also explains the importance of recognising science’s intrinsic limits.