The Life Scientific at 10: What does it take to be a scientist?

How damaging is the stereotype of white males in white coats? Do
scientists think differently? Or do the qualities we associate
with being a nerd do them a disservice? Is specialism the best
way to solve 21st century problems when so many great discoveries
are made in the cracks between the disciplines? In short, what
makes a scientist, a scientist? Jim and distinguished guests
consider the lessons learnt from nearly 250 leading scientists
talking with extraordinary honesty about their life and work.


And ask: has the job description changed? Success in science is
often defined by making discoveries and publishing papers but, as
the pandemic made clear, we also need scientists who can interact
with decision makers in government and elsewhere. Do scientists
need to learn new skills to participate in the decision making
process? Do they (or at least some of them) need to be more
outward looking, aware of the world beyond their laboratories and
ready to engage? Or do the corridors of power need to open their
doors to more people with a scientific training? And, if Britain
is to become a science superpower, is it time that scientists
stopped being squeamish about making money?


Jim's guests are Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation,
Prof Dame Ottoline Leyser; Nobel Prize winning biologist and
Director of the Crick Institute, Prof Sir Paul Nurse; geologist
and Royal Institution Christmas Lecturer, Prof Christopher
Jackson; and forensic scientist and member of the House of Lords,
Prof Dame Sue Black.


Produced by Anna Buckley.


First broadcast on Tuesday 12 October 2021.