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The Reith Lectures

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Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series.

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The Reith Lectures: Martin Rees: Scientific Horizons

The Reith Lectures: Martin Rees - Scientific Horizons: Episode 2: Surviving the Century

Martin Rees - Scientific Horizons

Episode 2

Episode 2: Surviving the Century

Surviving the Century

BBC Radio 4 - The Reith Lectures, Martin Rees - Scientific Horizons, Surviving the Century

Does science have the answers to help us save our planet?

President of the Royal Society Martin Rees explores whether science has the answers to help us save our planet.

Lecture 2: 'Surviving the Century'

In the second of this year's Reith Lectures, recorded for the first time in Wales in the National Museum Cardiff, Martin Rees, President of the Royal Society and Astronomer Royal, continues to explore the challenges facing science in the 21st century. Our planet is coming under increasing strain from climate change, population explosion and food shortages. How can we use science to help us solve the crisis that we are moving rapidly towards, as we use up our natural resources ever more quickly? 
Professor Rees explores the urgent need to substantially reduce our global CO2 emissions, or the atmospheric concentration will reach truly threatening levels. To do this, we need international cooperation, and global funding for clean and green technologies. He calls for the UK to keep one step ahead of other countries by developing technologies to reduce emissions, and says we should take the lead in wave and tidal energy, among other solutions. Science brings innovation but also risk, and random elements including fanatics can abuse new technologies to threaten our planet in ways we never dreamt of. The challenge, for our scientists, governments and people, is to confront the threats to our planet and find the solutions in science.

The Reith Lectures: Martin Rees - Scientific Horizons

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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Factual: Science & Nature

Prof Martin Rees on the challenges facing science in the 21st century.

Martin Rees, President of the Royal Society, Master of Trinity College and Astronomer Royal, delivers four lectures exploring the challenges facing science in the 21st century.

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The Reith Lectures

Martin Rees - Scientific Horizons

Episode 2: Surviving the Century

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