The Life Scientific

The Life Scientific
Running time30 minutes
Home stationBBC Radio 4
Hosted byJim Al-Khalili
Written byJim Al-Khalili
Original release11 October 2011 (2011-10-11)
No. of episodes281 (As of 28 March 2023)
WebsiteThe Life Scientific at BBC Online

The Life Scientific is a BBC Radio 4 science programme, presented by Jim Al-Khalili, in which each episode is dedicated to the biography and work of a living scientist.[1][2][3][4] The programme consists of an interview between Al-Khalili and the featured scientist, with others contributing anecdotes.[4]

It is broadcast on Tuesday mornings in the UK,[4] and is available online and via BBC Sounds, as is an archive of past episodes.[5] There have been over 200 episodes since the first, an interview with Sir Paul Nurse 12 years ago.[6] In October 2021 the programme reached its 10-year anniversary with discussion between Ottoline Leyser, Paul Nurse, Christopher Jackson and Sue Black about what makes a scientist a scientist.[7]

  1. ^ "The Life Scientific". BBC Online. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  2. ^ "Lord John Krebs on The Life Scientific, Radio 4". Future of Food. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  3. ^ Jones, Michael (30 August 2013). "Imperial in the news: The Life Scientific". Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  4. ^ a b c Mahoney, Elisabeth (11 October 2011). "Radio head: The Life Scientific and One to One". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  5. ^ "The Life Scientific - Episode guide". BBC Online. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  6. ^ "Paul Nurse, The Life Scientific - BBC Radio 4". BBC.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference four-scientist -10thanniversary was invoked but never defined (see the help page).