Popular Science Feature - Four Way Interview - Brian Clegg

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Four Way Interview - Brian Clegg - November 2007

Our four-way interviews give a quick insight into the current thinking of a popular science author.

Brian Clegg is the editor of the Popular Science website and has written books on subjects including light, Roger Bacon, infinity, Eadweard Muybridge and quantum entanglement. His latest title, The Global Warming Survival Kit is a practical guide to coping with the impact of climate change.

Why science?

Science fascinated me as a child and I've never lost that sense of wonder. For me it's a no-brainer of a question: I'd almost rather ask 'why not science?' This is a subject everyone should be fascinated by - for goodness sake, it's how our world, our universe (and us) works - and presented right, I believe science can excite anyone.

Why this book (Global Warming Survival Kit)?

It's quite a contrast with my previous books - most recently a biography of the motion picture pioneer Eadweard Muybridge and the re-issue of a new version of my book on humanity's fascination with light, Light Years. I started, really, just looking at the science and was horrified by the more and more frequent reports that suggested that climate change was going to have a bigger impact (and sooner) than expected. From there I went on to thinking about what impact that would have an us, and how we're going to come - which is what this book is about. I very much hope that things aren't going to get worse, and urge everyone to take all measures they can to reduce their contribution to global warming, but different parts of the world are already experiencing the situations I cover in the book - power cuts, food and water shortages, the impact of extreme weather and so on - and I think it's only sensible to be prepared for what the weather is going to throw at us at the same time as trying to minimize the effect of climate change.

What's next?

I've just finished a book for St Martin's Press in the US that I'm really excited about. Called Upgrade Me, it's about the way we have modified ourselves from the basic human being, thanks to our incredible brains. This can be really hi tech stuff - and I cover all that - but it doesn't have to be. For example, for an animal to evolve the capability to deal with arid landscapes, storing up spare water. will take millions of years. I can go and buy a 50p water bottle. In biological terms, we haven't evolved since Homo sapiens emerged tens of thousands of years ago - but in capability we are already Human 2.0. I'm currently working on another book on environmental issues, and have further title with a cosomological theme in the pipeline.

What's exciting you at the moment?

My first degree was in physics, and one of the reasons (apart from the fact I was a bit of a liability in the lab, nearly burning it down one Christmas) that I didn't carry on, but went on to do something completely different is that I didn't like the inevitable specialization that being a real scientist forces on you. The great thing about being a popular science writer is that I can switch to different topics, so there's always something new and exciting on the horizon. What always excites me is the chance to write, and to share my enthusiasm for all things scientific. That's why I'm so enjoying blogging (see http://network.nature.com/blogs/user/brianclegg), which I'm relatively new to.

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