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James Lovelock

Anne McElvoy looks to the future with the inventor and scientist James Lovelock, physicist Joanna Haigh and writer George Monbiot.

Picture of James Lovelock provided by the Science Museum

Anne McElvoy looks back at the life of the maverick scientist James Lovelock who pioneered the theory of Gaia, of a self-regulating Earth. Lovelock also looks to the future and the next evolution of Gaia which could lead to the extinction of human life, and a rise of Artificial Intelligence, but the writer and ecologist George Monbiot prefers his future world with wolves, wild boars and beavers living alongside humans. The UN's intergovernmental panel on climate change has warned to expect more volatile weather patterns, and the physicist Joanna Haigh explains how scientists from all disciplines are working together to measure the impact of solar activity on the Earth's climate.

Producer: Katy Hickman.

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43 minutes

Last on

Mon 21 Apr 2014 21:30

James Lovelock

James Lovelock is an independent scientist, environmentalist and futurist.

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A Rough Ride to the Future is published by Allen Lane.

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The exhibition Unlocking Lovelock: Scientist, Inventor, Maverick is on at the Science Museum until next year.

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Joanna Haigh

Joanna Haigh is Professor of Atmospheric Physics and Head of the Department of Physics at Imperial College London.

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George Monbiot

George Monbiot is a writer and environmentalist.

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Feral: Searching for Enchantment on the Frontiers of Rewilding, published by Penguin, is out in paperback in June.

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Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Anne McElvoy
Interviewed Guest James Lovelock
Interviewed Guest Joanna Haigh
Interviewed Guest George Monbiot
Producer Katy Hickman

Broadcasts

  • Mon 21 Apr 2014 09:00
  • Mon 21 Apr 2014 21:30

Podcast