This week on Science Weekly Alok Jha meets the environmental activist and science writer Mark Lynas. Best known for his award-winning book Six Degrees about the horrific consequences of global warming, he’s back with The God Species: How the Planet Can Survive the Age of Humans in which he describes the nine ecosystems that sustain life and diversity on the planet.
According to the synopsis at the Guardian’s Bookshop: "We humans are the God Species, both the creators and destroyers of life. In this groundbreaking new book, Mark Lynas shows us how we must use our technological mastery over nature to save the planet from ourselves."
Alok discusses Mark’s very public falling out with the Green movement due to his support for nuclear energy and GM crops. The God Species was pulled from sale on Amazon without explanation earlier this month after a customer complaint. It was quickly reinstated after a Twitter campaign.
Also on this week’s Science Weekly podcast our reporter Anna Perman visits the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition to explore the sounds and sights of an event where young scientists from around the UK gather to demonstrate their research.