Jim Meets...Adam Rutherford

Overview

The series is hosted by University of Surrey Physics Professor and presenter of BBC Radio 4’s The Life Scientific, Jim Al-Khalili and features a variety of well-loved public figures.

To relaunch this series we are delighted to welcome British geneticist, author, broadcaster and self-confessed geek, Dr Adam Rutherford for an “on the couch” style interview with Jim. The two will debate on their mutual interest in scientific developments, and we would be pleased to welcome questions from the audience for Jim to posit to Adam regarding his life, works and interests.

About Adam

Adam studied genetics at University College London, and during his PhD on the developing eye at the Institute of Child Health at Great Ormond St Hospital, he was part of a team that identified the first genetic cause of a form of childhood blindness. Since then, he worked as an editor at the journal Nature, and has written several books; his first book, CREATION, on the origin of life and synthetic biology, was shortlisted for the Wellcome Trust Prize. His latest book, the Sunday Times Bestseller, HOW TO ARGUE WITH A RACIST has been described is a vital manifesto for a twenty-first century understanding of human evolution and variation, and a timely weapon against the misuse of science to justify bigotry.

On radio, Adam presents BBC Radio 4's weekly programme Inside Science, and with Dr. Hannah Fry, the Curious Cases of Rutherford and Fry. He has also written and presented documentaries on subjects ranging from the history of sex, the evolution of morality, to the MMR-Autism scandal.

He has written and presented several award winning television documentaries, including The Cell (2009), The Gene Code (2011), the Beauty of Anatomy (2014), and Playing God, on the rise of synthetic biology for the BBC's long-running science series Horizon. He also appeared on programmes including James Cameron's The Story of Science Fiction (2018), University Challenge (2016).

He has worked on a number of films as a scientific consultant too, including Annihilation (dir. Alex Garland, 2018), Ex Machina (dir. Alex Garland, 2015), Life (dir. Daniel Espinosa, 2016)

Bjork: Biophilia Live (dir. Peter Strickland, 2014), Kingsmen: The Secret Service (dir. Matthew Vaughan, 2014).

About Jim

Jim Al-Khalili OBE FRS is a quantum physicist, author and broadcaster and one of the best-known science communicators in Britain. He holds a Distinguished Chair in Physics at the University of Surrey where he teaches and conducts his research. He received a PhD in nuclear theory in 1989 and has since published over 100 research papers. He has written twelve books on popular science, between them translated into over twenty-six languages, as well as his first novel, Sunfall. He is a regular presenter of TV science documentaries and the long-running Radio 4 programme, The Life Scientific. He is a recipient of the Royal Society Faraday medal, the Institute of Physics Kelvin Medal and the Stephen Hawking Medal. His latest book, The World According to Physics, is published this year by Princeton University Press.

About Jim meets…

Jim meets… is a series of in conversation events featuring a variety of well-loved public figures who are connected in some way to the academic disciplines and research initiatives that the University of Surrey champions.

Jim chairs an informal interview with the guest on their life, works and mutual interest in science, including questions from the audience. Amongst others, we have welcomed the Archbishop of Canterbury, David Attenborough, Brian Cox, Dara O´Briain, Ruby Wax and Brian Blessed for these special events. View previous events from this series.