The dark history of genetics - with Adam Rutherford (2023 HBS Haldane Lecture)

This lecture was recorded at the Ri on 11 October 2023.

Join the 2023 JBS Haldane Lecturer Adam Rutherford as he explores how, as we continue to use and celebrate the advances of our intellectual predecessors, we frequently fail to acknowledge the toxic political views that informed their work.

Even today, scientists are not exempt from their culture, and science is always political. In this talk Adam will explore the work, views and legacies of some of our heroes, including Karl Pearson, Ronald Fisher and yes, JBS Haldane.

The JBS Haldane Lecture recognises an individual for outstanding ability to communicate topical subjects in genetics research, widely interpreted, to an interested lay audience. This speaker will have a flair for conveying the relevance and excitement of recent advances in genetics in an informative and engaging way.

Dr Adam Rutherford is a science writer and broadcaster. He studied genetics at University College London, and during his PhD on the developing eye, he was part of a team that identified the first genetic cause of a form of childhood blindness.

He has written and presented many award-winning series and programmes for the BBC, including the flagship weekly Radio 4 programme 'Inside Science' and 'The curious cases of Rutherford & Fry' with Dr Hannah Fry.

He is the author 'Creation', which was shortlisted for the Wellcome Trust Prize, 'A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived', 'The Book of Humans' the Sunday Times bestselling 'How to Argue with a Racist' and the co-author of 'Rutherford and Fry's Complete Guide to Absolutely Everything (Abridged)'.