In search for immortality

The inevitability of death has haunted humanity throughout its history. Belief systems have risen throughout human civilisation to rationalise and console the concept of death, from the afterlife envisioned in Abrahamic religions to recurrent reincarnation in Eastern religions.

However, there is a growing sense of optimism in our contemporary era. Thanks to a stark revolution in biology, our understanding of the ageing process is progressing rapidly. This includes comprehending why some species have such a great lifespan compared to others and poses the question of whether we as a species could overcome the clutches of disease and live for more extraordinary lengths than ever thought possible.

Join Venki Ramakrishnan, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and former president of the Royal Society, as he navigates this leading-edge research and questions whether mortality is an inevitable part of human existence or if advancements could ever come close to immortality. However, the lengths it has taken to develop this understanding begs the question that death may serve an indispensable purpose and what ethical and societal dilemmas could arise if we try to defer it.

This event is proudly sponsored by Digital Science as part of their Speaker Series. More information on this series can be found here.