Ambassador
Lord Robert Winston Champions the Sciencewise-ERC

Lord Robert Winston

“Scientists must listen to public fears and respond to the concerns of ordinary people. We must behave responsibly, ensuring our work has the highest ethical standards.”

Lord Robert Winston

We were delighted when the leading UK scientist and broadcaster, Lord Robert Winston, agreed to become the Sciencewise-ERC’s figurehead and leading ambassador. Lord Winston champions the work of the resource centre to politicians, members of the scientific community and the public.

Lord Robert Winston is a well-know figure in British scientific and political circles and a passionate advocate of public dialogue and engagement with science.

He is internationally acclaimed for his long and highly successful research career in reproductive medicine. A pioneer of IVF treatment in the UK, over recent years Lord Winston has focused on exploring innovative ways of introducing new genes into stem cells with the long-term aim of improving human transplantation to combat serious degenerative diseases such as cystic fibrosis.

As Emeritus Professor of Fertility Studies at Imperial College, London, he currently leads a research programme in the Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology on improvements in transgenic technology in animal models.

In January 2008, Lord Winston was also appointed the first Professor of Sciences and Society at Imperial College, with a remit to develop the university’s capacity to promote, explain and discuss its world-class research outside the university confines. 

“I firmly believe that public engagement with science is vital,” said Lord Winston. Scientific knowledge has huge promise but its possible misuse means it’s important that society has adequate control of what is done in its name.

“The Sciencewise-ERC will be a valuable resource for developing two-way conversation with the public and most importantly, will help to build greater confidence and trust between Government, scientists and society as a whole,” he added. 

In addition to his academic work, Lord Winston is a well-known face on television having written and presented a number of highly successful and popular television series on science and medicine for the BBC’s main channel and Discovery networks. These include five series of the groundbreaking  “Your Life in Their Hands”, “Making Babies, “The Human Body”, which won three BAFTA awards and an Emmy nomination, and “Child of Our Time”.

Among his many other activities, Lord Winston is a board member and Vice-chairman of the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology and a prominent member of the House of Lords where he regularly speaks in debates on science, medicine, education and the arts.

View vidcasts of Lord Winston talking about the importance of public dialogue