Institute of Continuing Education (ICE)
We have come to understand how, starting from some mysterious 'beginning' about 13.7 billion years ago, the first atoms, stars and planets emerged -- and how, on at least one planet around at least one star, life began and a complex biosphere evolved. What were the key stages in this process? How did the laws of nature allow such complexity to emerge, and what can we infer about the overall scale and structure of the cosmos? And what lies in the far future? Will life from Earth spread far beyond? Or is life already widespread?
Lord Rees is Master of Trinity College at the University of Cambridge. He holds the honorary title of Astronomer Royal. He was formerly a professor and Director of the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge. He was President of the Royal Society from 2005 to 2010. He is currently on the Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, the National Museum of Science and Industry, the Institute for Public Policy Research, and the Princeton Institute for Advanced Study, and has served on many bodies connected with education, space research, arms control and international collaboration in science. In 2005 he was appointed to the House of Lords. As well as many research papers, he has written eight books (six for general readership), and numerous magazine and newspaper articles on scientific and general subjects. He has broadcast and lectured widely and held various visiting professorships.
The Madingley Lectures take place at Madingley Hall, home of the University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education (ICE). This lecture series, given by eminent speakers across a wide range of subjects, is an important part of ICE's commitment to public engagement.
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