Polymath World Channel

Dr Ros Jackson has worked for Illumina in Cambridge for the past two decades, during which time gene sequencing has become cheap, accurate, rapid and accessible. The data revolution from massive, parallel sequencing has brought about a huge revolution in the life sciences. Everything from cancer research, drug discovery, through to the current efforts to understand the history of life (such as the...

Episode 70: Becoming Martian | How Evolution Could Change Humans on Mars with Scott Solomon What would happen to the human body and mind if we lived on Mars for generations? In Episode 70, Professor Scott Solomon explores the science of human evolution in space and how life on Mars could potentially shape our biology, behavior, and future. Dr. Scott Solomon is a biologist, professor, and science c...

Episode 69: Humans to Mars, the Moon & the Future of Space Exploration | Dr. Tiffany Vora What will it take for humanity to become a multi-planetary civilization?   In Episode 69 of Polymath World, Dr. Tiffany Vora explores the future of space exploration, the strategic importance of the Moon, the challenges of sending humans to Mars, and the technologies that could make life beyond Earth poss...

Chris Barber is the founder and CEO of ISSET. For over 20 years he has been running programs for young people with astronauts, NASA personnel, and first-class STEM programs which have resulted in over 60 experiments being sent to the International Space Station. ISSET runs education programs all over the world, all year round. Inspiring tens of thousands of young minds, it is the single most effec...

Episode 67: Dr. Andrew Jackson on Zoology, Bioengineering, Science & Religion Can science, engineering, and theology work together to deepen our understanding of the universe? In Episode 67 of Polymath World, Sam speaks with Dr. Andrew Jackson, a fascinating polymath with two PhDs whose career spans zoology, bioengineering, science and religion, philosophy, and theology. Dr. Jackson is current...

Summary Harry Amos shares his journey from evangelical faith to atheism, exploring the role of faith, doubt, and intellectual inquiry in his life. This episode delves into his experiences with religious festivals, deconstruction, and the search for truth. Key Topics Harry Amos' background in evangelical Christianity His experiences at Soul Survivor festival and charismatic worship The process of d...

Episode.65 | The Ethics of Space Medicine | Samuel McKee on Space Surgery & Future Missions What happens when an astronaut needs emergency medical care millions of miles from Earth? In Episode 65, Samuel McKee explores the ethical challenges shaping the future of space medicine, including emergency treatment, informed consent, medical decision-making, and the possibility of performing surgery...

Episode 64: What Is Humanism? Neil McKain on Ethics, Reason & the Future of Humanity What is humanism, and why does it matter in a rapidly changing world? In Episode 64 of Polymath World, Sam is joined by Neil McKain of Humanists UK for an engaging exploration of humanism, its historical roots, ethical foundations, and its relevance to the future of humanity. The conversation examines how huma...

Frank White — The Overview Effect, Space Philosophy and Humanity's Place in the Cosmos What happens when we stop seeing Earth as a collection of nations, resources and competing interests—and see it instead as one living, interconnected system? In this episode of Polymath World , Sam is joined by renowned space philosopher and author Frank White , originator of the term “The Overview Effect.” Fran...

Episode Title: ISS Commander Steve Swanson on Spacewalks, Soyuz, and Space Lettuce Description: What does it take to command the International Space Station? In this episode, Dr. Steve Swanson—a veteran of three spaceflights and over 170 days in orbit—joins us to share the real stories behind the headlines. Steve reveals how a "not-so-perfect" start in college and a year of construction work event...

Polymath, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716), if new to you, has had an enormous impact on many important aspects of your life in the 21st Century. Learn from Dr Lloyd Strickland, interviewed by Sam McKee, how Leibniz was so powerful in his thinking that his contemporaries literally couldn't keep up with him.

Imagine playing a role in bringing Astronauts - British, European, and American into UK schools.  Upturned faces as the children listen attentively and learn to think bigger as they look to the sky in new ways.  This has been the mission of Rowland Lindill and his family, having founded the brilliantly named, "The Armchair Astronaut."  Rowland and the family's dedication  is responsible for helpin...

CHRISTIANITY What is Christianity? Does it work? How does it shape the Western world? Glen Scrivener, author of the award-winning book "The Air We Breathe", director of the 321 course on Christianity and CEO of the organisation Speak Life comes to talk about the world's biggest religion and answer my questions. I met Glen a decade ago and we have crossed paths a few times for Premier Unbelievable...

CONTINENTAL PHILOSOPHY Dr Shaun Steveson is lecturer in philosophy at Manchester Metropolitan University. He is an expert of philosophy of death, which not many people realise is a subject. His specialism is in continental philosophy with a strong focus on the 20th century. Shaun came to philosophy through theology and has a very interesting story of coming through religion, before abandoning it,...

A City On Mars Dr Kelly Weinersmith is a scientist, pop-sci author, and podcaster. She is on the biosciences faculty at Rice University, a research associate at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, the Vice President of the American Society of Parasitologists and President of the Helminthological Society of Washington. After undergraduate and masters degrees at Bowling Green, she did her...

Nuclear Propulsion Can we travel further, faster in space with nuclear propulsion? As NASA gets ready to launch Space Reactor-1 Freedom (SR-1) in 2028 we explore the details of this technology. This mission aims to demonstrate a reactor generating over 20 kW of power, using HALEU (high-assay low-enriched uranium) fuel. People can get nervous about nuclear, but this technology can (and will) revolu...

GENE EDITING AND TERRAFORMING MARS Dr Erika DeBenedictus is CEO of Pioneer Labs. She is a computational physicist and synthetic biologist working at the intersection of space science and the life sciences. She studied at Caltech before moving to MIT and did her postdoc under 2024 Nobel Laureate David Baker. She also trained at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. At Pioneer Labs they use several meth...

COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY AND HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT Many thanks to the British Interplanetary Society for allowing me to publish this lecture on my channel. I was delighted and honoured to speak at the BIS Reinventing Space conference for a second year in a row. What are the implications for human spaceflight and space medicine coming from the recent revolutions in computational biology? How can we use it...

ASTROPHYSICS AND THEOLOGY Dr David Wilkinson is an extraordinary polymath - a man with 2 PhDs and a published scholar across both science and theology. He is Professor of Theology and Principle of St John's College, University of Durham. He has authored many books including God, Stephen Hawking and the Multiverse . After initially working on the study of star formation and the chemical evolution o...

VNCCII NASA ASTROBOTICS and NANOFISCH Samantha Tauber is the visionary creator of VNCCII® and the founding architect behind the Galacta.i.ssance Movement—a bold new cultural renaissance designed to elevate consciousness, awaken the imagination, and serve as a guide to humanity for an abundant future. Through her alter ego, VNCCII®—a cosmic superheroine and celestial ally for humanity’s next evolut...

Theology WHAT DID JESUS LOOK LIKE? Dr John Nelson is a theologian who studied his Masters and PhD at Oxford University. He did his BA at the University of Nottingham. His thesis was on why there is no physical description of Jesus in the New Testament or any early Christian literature. John hosts events across the country with his friend and well-known sceptic Alex O'Connor and moderates discussio...

MARS It was great fun getting together with fellow members of the Mars Society to chat all things Mars. Between us we have rocket scientists, engineers, robotics experts, biologists and a whole lot of passion for the red planet. The Polymath World Channel brings you interviews with extraordinary researchers and academics working on the frontiers of their disciplines. Meet and hear from scientists,...

VIROLOGY Dr Mirjam Schilling is a virologist researching the arbovirus family. She is a dual research fellow of Exeter College at Oxford University with a passion for exploring the impact of viruses on human and animal health. She has featured on ABC news to discuss the pandemic and its influence on climate science, as well as conducting science communication with young people on “what is a virus?...

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Melody Safavizadeh has held leadership roles at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory on missions including Mars 2020 and Psyche. With a background in systems integration, electrical engineering, and spacecraft operations, she has helped tackle some of the most exciting challenges in space exploration. She is an advocate for women in STEM and passionate about educational out...

WHY EVOLUTION IS TRUE In February 2026 I gave the annual Darwin Day Lecture at Leicester Secular Hall on "The Genomics Revolution in Evolution" explaining how genomics has transformed and deepened our understanding of evolution. The past 10 years in the life sciences have been the most revolutionary for biology since the 1950s, with multiple converging technological breakthroughs changing the game...