This year's Reith Lecturer is Vilayanur S Ramachandran, Director of the Centre for Brain and Cognition. He has lectured widely on art and visual perception of the brain and is Editor-in-chief of the Encyclopaedia of Human Behaviour. Professor Ramachandran's work has concentrated on investigating phenomena such as phantom limbs, anosognosia and anorexia nervosa. Professor Ramachandran begins his Reith Lecture series on 'The Emerging Mind' by arguing that scientists need no longer be afraid to ask the big questions about what it means to be human. With empirical evidence, science can now answer ancient philosophical questions about meaning and existence. By studying neurological syndromes that have been largely ignored as curiosities or mere anomalies, we can sometimes acquire novel insights into the functions of the brain. Many of the functions of the brain, he says, are best understood from an evolutionary vantage point.

Onora O'Neill, Principal of Newnham College and renowned political philosopher, delves into the fragility of trust in an age dominated by one-way information technologies. She highlights the media's critical role in fostering accountability and transparency. O'Neill critiques the balance between press freedom and the dissemination of misinformation. The talk also addresses the ethical dimensions of communication and the pervasive issues within the wellness industry, advocating for informed public engagement and robust journalistic integrity.

Onora O'Neill, the Principal of Newnham College, Cambridge, and a renowned political philosopher, dives into the complexities of trust and transparency. She explores the paradox that more information can lead to less trust due to potential deception. O'Neill argues for critical thinking and informed judgment, stressing the need for verifying sources. The discussion also highlights troubling trends in the wellness industry, revealing manipulative practices that can entrap individuals. Ultimately, she advocates for a more constructive dialogue to restore societal trust.

Onora O'Neill examines the delicate balance between accountability and democracy, raising questions about the effectiveness of audits in combating injustice. She discusses the complexities of public trust in institutions and the paradoxes of stringent regulations that may undermine genuine professional judgment. The lecture highlights the need for 'intelligent accountability,' advocating for a system that emphasizes independent judgment and authentic service over mere compliance. The challenges of measurement in public versus private sectors are also explored.

Onora O'Neill, a prominent philosopher and Principal of Newnham College, Cambridge, dives into the delicate interplay between trust and terrorism. She discusses how trust can foster resilience but also lead to betrayal in times of fear. The conversation highlights the fragility of societal trust after trauma and its pivotal role in protecting democracy. O'Neill emphasizes the importance of recognizing responsibilities linked to rights and the power of small acts of defiance in rebuilding trust and governance post-conflict.

Onora O'Neill, a prominent moral philosopher and Baroness, discusses the critical role of trust in society. She delves into historical insights while addressing current challenges, revealing the paradox of needing trust amidst uncertainties. O'Neill highlights the erosion of public trust and critiques strategies designed to enhance accountability. The conversation also touches on skepticism toward journalism and the complex dynamics of trust in policing, ultimately questioning how technology and misinformation impact our democratic environment.

Tom Kirkwood, Professor of Medicine and head of the Department of Gerontology at the University of Newcastle presents his final of five Reith Lectures investigating new insights from the frontiers of science and the choices and decisions we face in the uncharted territories of a greying world.In this lecture, Professor Kirkwood challenges science and society to look afresh at what is happening in our world, to recognise the opportunities, as well as the threats to future stability, that stem from the revolution in longevity. We know where we've come from and why, he argues, but we don't have a clear plan of where to go now. The longevity revolution has reached a turning-point and the decisions we take in the next few years will have far-reaching consequences for the state of future society

Tom Kirkwood, Professor of Medicine and head of the Department of Gerontology at the University of Newcastle presents the fourth of five Reith Lectures investigating new insights from the frontiers of science and the choices and decisions we face in the uncharted territories of a greying world. In this lecture, recorded at Berryhill retirement village, near Stoke-on-Trent, Professor Kirkwood discusses making choices in ageing. He argues that the freedom to make, and continue making choices is perhaps the greatest single index of well-being. Choice matters in ageing for two very powerful reasons. First, although many fruits of the scientific revolution lie in the future, scientific understanding of the ageing process tells us already that there is a great deal we can do now by making the right choices. Second, as we get older, choice often seems to be taken away, however the revolution in longevity puts choice high up the list of priorities. Professor Kirkwood argues that we need to recognise that when we make choices about initiatives to meet the challenge of an older population, it is not 'them and us' we are dealing with, but 'us and us', and that we should be more robust in confronting the reality of our longer lives.

Tom Kirkwood, Professor of Medicine and head of the Department of Gerontology at the University of Newcastle presents the third of five Reith Lectures investigating new insights from the frontiers of science and the choices and decisions we face in the uncharted territories of a greying world.In this lecture Professor Kirkwood tackles the subject of sex. Does sex shorten our lives? Can it be, as some have suggested, that ageing and death are the price we pay for sex? Does it make sense to think in terms of a 'reproductive duty' to the species, leaving us surplus to requirement when duty is done? And what, if these worrying notions are true, are we to make of the post-menopausal woman? These are the questions he examines; revealing that the answers are not only reassuring, (on the whole), but also, that they tell us a great deal about the biological background to our revolution in longevity.

Tom Kirkwood, Professor of Medicine and head of the Department of Gerontology at the University of Newcastle presents his second of five Reith Lectures investigating new insights from the frontiers of science and the choices and decisions we face in the uncharted territories of a greying world.In this lecture he looks at a revolution in the life sciences; a revolution that has unfolded with breathtaking speed over the last half century and which has accelerated greatly of late. It is this revolution, he argues, that will allow us to understand the role of DNA in the ageing process.We sometimes say, in extremis, that a person's life hangs by a thread. In fact, all our lives hang by a thread all the time. The thread in question is DNA, the medium through which we inherit our genetic destiny. DNA directs our growth and all of the vital processes on which we depend for survival. DNA is the thread of life, but is it also the thread of death? Does DNA control our end as it controls our beginning?