Simon Singh

Science writer

Simon Singh was born in Somerset into a family that originated in the Punjab. He wanted to be a scientist from a very early age and studied physics at Imperial College, London, where he began his writing career with occasional articles for student newspapers and helping to edit a couple of newsletters.

In 1990 he joined the BBC’s Science Department, where he produced and directed programmes such as "Tomorrow’s World" and "Horizon". In 1996 he directed "Fermat’s Last Theorem", an award-winning documentary about the world’s most famous mathematical problem, and then went on to write a book on the same subject, the first book about mathematics to become a No.1 bestseller in the UK.

His other books include The Code Book, Big Bang and Trick or Treatment?.  Buy any of them at Amazon.co.uk through this link and a small commission will go to Humanists UK.

Simon Singh give lectures on scientific and sceptical themes and has taken part in shows such as "Theatre of Science" with Professor Richard Wiseman, New Humanist's “Nine Lessons and Carols for Godless People" which he has described as “one of the most exciting projects that I have been involved in", and the 2011 "Uncaged Monkey" tour.  He has also spoken at Skeptics in the Pub events and taken part in James Randi’s international TAM events, and supports efforts such at the 10:23 homeopathic overdose challenge. He has helped to start education projects such as UAS which encourages university science departments to work more closely with schools, and the Enigma project which conducts maths/cryptography workshops in schools with a genuine Enigma cipher machine.

After being sued for libel by the British Chiropractic Association in 2008, and successful defence in 2010, he has been involved in the Libel Reform Campaign. He is also an honorary associate of the Rationalist Association and supporter of Sense About Science.

See also his website: http://simonsingh.net/