Astrophysicist and Cosmologist; co-founder of the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk (CSER) at the University of Cambridge

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Martin Rees (Lord Rees of Ludlow, OM FRS) is an astrophysicist and cosmologist, and the UK’s Astronomer Royal. President of the Royal Society (2005-2010), laureate of the 1984 Heineman Prize, 2005 Crafoord Prize and 2011 Templeton Prize, Sir Martin Rees was Master of Trinity College, Cambridge from 2004 to 2012. His main research interests have been galaxy formation, cosmic jets, black holes, and gamma ray bursts. More speculatively, he is interested in the question of whether we live in a multiverse and the prospects of detecting extraterrestrial life. He is a thought leader on long-term global issues, notably the pressures that a growing and more demanding population are placing on environment, sustainability, and biodiversity, and the impact of powerful recent technologies. He co-founded the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk (CSER) at the University of Cambridge with a focus on these issues.