Simon Singh
Simon Singh | |
---|---|
Born | Simon Lehna Singh 19 September 1964 Wellington, Somerset, England |
Nationality | British |
Education | Wellington School, Somerset |
Alma mater |
|
Known for | |
Spouse | |
Children | 2 |
Awards |
|
Scientific career | |
Institutions | CERN BBC |
Thesis | Heavy flavour physics at the CERN PP̄ collider (1991) |
Website | simonsingh |
Notes | |
Tom Singh (brother) |
Simon Lehna Singh,
Singh has also produced documentaries and works for television to accompany his books, is a trustee of the
Early life and education
Singh was born in a Sikh family
Career
In 1983, he was part of the UA2 experiment in CERN.[16] In 1987, Singh taught science at
After attending some of Wiseman's lectures, Singh came up with the idea to create a show together, and Theatre of Science was born. It was a way to deliver science to normal people in an entertaining manner. Richard Wiseman has influenced Singh in such a way that Singh states:
My writing initially was about pure science but a lot of my research now has been inspired by his desire to debunk things such as the paranormal – we both hate psychics, mediums, pseudoscience in general.[18]
Singh directed his
The story of this celebrated mathematical problem was also the subject of Singh's first book,
On his activities as author he said in an interview to Imperial College London:
When I finished my PhD, I knew I wasn't exceptionally good and would never get the Nobel prize. As a kid, I wanted to be a footballer then a commentator. If I couldn't be a physicist, I'd write about it.[19]
In October 2004, Singh published a book entitled Big Bang, which tells the history of the universe. It is told in his trademark style, by following the remarkable stories of the people who put the pieces together.
He made headlines in 2005 when he criticised the
Singh was part of an investigation about homeopathy in 2006. This investigation was made by the organization Sense about Science.[16][23] In the investigation, a student asked ten homeopaths for an alternative to her preventive malaria medication. All ten homeopaths recommended homeopathy as a substitute.[24] This investigation was reported by the BBC.[25]
Singh is a member of the Advisory Council for the Campaign for Science and Engineering.[26]
Singh has been involved in television and radio programmes, including Five Numbers (BBC Radio 4, 11 March 2002 to 20 September 2005).[27]
Honorary degrees
In 2003 Singh was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) by Loughborough University, and in 2005 was given an honorary degree in Mathematics by the University of Southampton.
In 2006, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Design degree by the
In July 2011, he was awarded another degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) by the
Other awards and honours
In 2003, Singh was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to science, technology and engineering in education and science communication.[32]
In 2010 he became the inaugural recipient of the
In February 2011 he was elected as a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.[34]
Chiropractic lawsuit
On 19 April 2008,
You might think that modern chiropractors restrict themselves to treating back problems, but in fact they still possess some quite wacky ideas. The fundamentalists argue that they can cure anything. And even the more moderate chiropractors have ideas above their station. The British Chiropractic Association claims that their members can help treat children with colic, sleeping and feeding problems, frequent ear infections, asthma and prolonged crying, even though there is not a jot of evidence. This organisation is the respectable face of the chiropractic profession and yet it happily promotes bogus treatments.[35]
When the case was brought against him, The Guardian supported him and funded his legal advice, as well as offering to pay the BCA's legal costs in an
To defend himself for the libel suit, Singh's out-of-pocket legal costs were tens of thousands of pounds. The trial acted as a catalyst. The outrage over the initial ruling brought together several groups to support Singh[45] and acted as a focus for libel reform campaigners, resulting in all major parties in the 2010 general election making manifesto commitments to libel reform.[4]
On 25 April 2013 the
Publications
- Fermat's Last Theorem (1997) – the theorem's initial conjecture and eventual proof
- ISBN 978-1857028799
- ISBN 0007193823
- ISBN 0593061292
- ISBN 1620402777
Personal life
Singh married journalist and broadcaster Anita Anand in 2007. The couple have two sons and live in Richmond, London.[47][48]
References
- ^ "Book awards: Science Writing Award". Library Thing. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
- ^ "Simon Singh wins Maiden Leelavati Award" (PDF). Math Union. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
- ^ "Author Simon Singh Will Receive First-Ever Lilavati Award at ICM 2010". Mathematical Association of America. 9 August 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- ^ S2CID 20001290.
- ^ "Simon Singh: "The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets" – Talks at Google". YouTube. 4 December 2013. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021.
- ISBN 1857026691.
- ISBN 0385493622.
- ISBN 0385495323.
- ISBN 0007162200.
- ISBN 978-0593061299.
- ISBN 978-1620402771.
- ^ Simon Singh (2 September 2012). "About". GTS website. Good Thinking Society. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
- ^ "a life in architecture: simon singh". Architects' Journal. 8 June 2000. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
- ^ "The Simon Singh Interview". Imperial College London. October 1999. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
- EThOS uk.bl.ethos.385498.
- ^ a b "Meet Simon Singh". 20 July 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
- ^ "There's math in Simpsons, Simon says". Hindustan Times. 12 January 2014. Archived from the original on 12 January 2014.
- ^ Jacques, Adam (29 September 2014). "Richard Wiseman and Simon Singh: How we met". The Independent. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ The Simon Singh interview Imperial College, 1999
- ^ Singh, Simon (30 September 2005). "Katie Melua's bad science". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 12 December 2008.
- ^ Lineweaver, Charles; Davis, Tamara M. (2005). "Misconceptions about the Big Bang". Scientific American. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
- ^ "Listen Again". Today Programme. BBC Radio 4. 15 October 2005. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
- ^ "Malaria and homeopathy". Retrieved 15 January 2014.
- Skeptic. Event occurs at 8:50. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
- ^ "Malaria advice 'risks lives'". BBC News. 13 July 2006. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
- ^ "Advisory Council of the Campaign for Science and Engineering". Retrieved 11 February 2011.
- ^ Singh, Simon. "Simon Singh's Numbers". BBC Radio 4. BBC. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ "UWE awards honorary degree to Dr Simon Singh MBE". News 2006. University of the West of England. 28 November 2006. Retrieved 12 December 2008.
- ^ "The Kelvin Medal and Prize: 2008 Medallist". Subject Awards. Institute of Physics. Retrieved 12 December 2008.
- ^ "2008 Honorary Graduates and Fellows become part of a prestigious network". Media & Events. Royal Holloway, University of London. Retrieved 12 December 2008.
- ^ Tobin, Alyson (22 June 2012). "Laureation Address – Dr Simon Singh". University of St Andrews. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
- ^ "No. 56963". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 June 2003. p. 22.
- ^ "Simon Singh wins maiden Leelavati Award" (PDF). ICM 2010 webpage. 27 September 2010.
- ^ "CSI announces new Fellows". 7 February 2011. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
- ^ a b Singh, Simon (19 April 2008). "Beware the spinal trap". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 13 November 2008. Retrieved 21 January 2009. Alt URL reinstated on 15 April 2010
- ^ Comment is Free, The Guardian
- ^ Eden, R (16 August 2008). "Doctors take Simon Singh to court". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 12 December 2008.
- ^ Boseley, Sarah (14 May 2009). "Science writer accused of libel may take fight to European court". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
- ^ Martin Robbins. Furious backlash from Simon Singh libel case puts chiropractors on ropes. "One in four chiropractors in Britain are under investigation as a result of campaign by Singh supporters." The Guardian, 1 March 2010
- ^ Lucas Laursen. "The Great Beyond: Chiropractic group advises members to 'withdraw from the battleground'". Nature.com. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
- ^ "The Skeptic Zone episode 273". 13 January 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
- .
- ^ "Simon Singh wins libel court battle". Guardian. London. 1 April 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
- ^ "British Chiropractic Association v Singh — BCA admits defeat". Ely Place. Retrieved 15 April 2010.
- Grossman, Wendy (8 October 2021). "Minding the Gaps: Simon Singh". Skeptical Inquirer. Center for Inquiry. Archived from the originalon 12 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
- British Parliament (25 April 2013). "Defamation Act 2013".
- ^ Levin, Angela (7 August 2012). "My perfect weekend: Anita Anand, radio and TV presenter". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
- ^ "New Richmond Society Patron: Anita Anand" (PDF). Twickenham and Richmond Tribune. No. 248. 7 August 2021. p. 9. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
External links
- Simon Singh at IMDb
- Official website