Think Like a Scientist

Preparing for Future Catastrophes

International Risk Governance Council Report, February 2013 (http://www.irgc.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/CN_Prep.-for-Future-Catastrophes_final_11March13.pdf ) Executive Summary: Many of the serious problems that we face today follow a similar pattern, where the...

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Risk Governance of Slowly-Developing Catastrophic Risks

European Society for Risk Analysis Annual Conference, ETH Zurich, 18-20 June (2012) (with Marie Valentine-Florin) Read the first public summary of my report "Preparing for Future Catastrophes" Preparing for Future Catastrophes International Risk Governance Council...

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Talk: Humour In Science

Cambridge University Scientific Society A funny thing happened on the way to the lab...It would be more correct to say that a funny thing happened IN the lab, because jokes (practical and otherwise), facetious suggestions and general playfulness have been the...

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Humour in Science

An "Ockham's Razor" talk delivered on April 1st, 2012 (for audio version check out http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/ockhamsrazor/humour-in-science/3919798) I have twelve minutes to convince you that scientists have a sense of humour, and that humour is an...

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International Research Governance Council

At an International Research Governance Council meeting on “Slow moving risks with potentially catastrophic outcomes”, held in Venice from 26–28 August 2011, a group of senior politicians and scientists (myself among them) met to consider the advice that we could best...

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Game Theory in Real Life

Regensburg, Germany, 29–30 September 2011 Introductory Talk at Interdisciplinary Symposium “Ultimate and proximate determinants of aggression in man (and other primates)”

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Review: Exciting Structures

Physics World (p. 38) A review of Mark Denny’s exciting new book Super Structures: The Science of Bridges, Buildings, Dams and Other Feats of Engineering. Download review (PDF)

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Equations for Everyday Life

Cambridge University Scientific Society A decade ago I initiated what has become a rather regrettable trend when I demonstrated that a simple physical equation could be used to understand and optimize the process of biscuit dunking. The media were enraptured by the...

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Radio Tour of America: January–February 2010

Hear and read about my interviews on how we can tackle the complex problems of everyday life: San Francisco CA: KVON Morning Edition National Public Radio: Hive Mind New York NY: WNYC Brian Lehrer Show Lifestyle Talk Radio (National) Frankie Boyer Show Columbia MO:...

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Radio Interview: New York’s Brian Lehrer Show

As it happens, humans follow some of the same behaviour rules as ants and bees. Len Fisher, author The Perfect Swarm: The Science of Complexity in Everyday Life, discusses what swarms can teach us about parties, traffic and more. Hear Len's interview on New York's...

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I’m an IgNobel Prize Winner: Get Me Out Of Here!

BBC Focus Magazine How would you use science to help you escape from a desert island? My solution, which began with using loose change to make a battery, was illustrator James Reekie’s personal favourite. If I were marooned with a group of others, I would set up a...

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