Matt Ridley

Matt Ridley has been a scientist, journalist and businessman. With BA and DPhil degrees from Oxford University, he worked for the Economist for nine years as science editor, Washington correspondent and American editor, before becoming a self-employed writer and businessman. He was founding chairman of the International Centre for Life in Newcastle. He was non-excutive chairman of Northern Rock plc and Northern 2 VCT plc. He currently writes the Mind and Matter column in the Wall Street Journal and writes for many other publications. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and of the Academy of Medical Sciences, and a foreign honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is married to the neuroscientist Professor Anya Hurlbert. They have two children and live at Blagdon near Newcastle upon Tyne in England. He was elected to the House of Lords in 2013 and served on the science and technology select committee from 2014-2017. Matt Ridley’s books have sold over 900,000 copies, been translated into 30 languages, been short-listed for nine major literary prizes and won several awards.