Lewis Wolpert is Professor of Biology as Applied to Medicine in the Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology of University College, London. His research interests are in the mechanisms involved in the development of the embryo. He was originally trained as a civil engineer in South Africa but changed to research in cell biology at King's College, London in 1955. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1980 and awarded the CBE in 1990. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1999. He has presented science on both radio and TV for five years, was Chairman of the Committee for the Public Understanding of Science. His book Malignant Sadness. The Anatomy of Depression was published by Faber in 1999. This book was the basis for three television programmes entitled 'A Living Hell' which he presented on BBC2. Principles of Development, of which he is principal author, was published by Faber Current Biology in 1998. Passionate Minds with Alison Richards, the second set of interviews with scientists, was published Oxford University Press in 1997. The Unnatural Nature of Science was published by Faber in 1992. The Triumph of the Embryo was published by Oxford University Press in 1991. A Passion for Science with Alison Richards, the first set of interviews with scientists, was published by Oxford University Press in 1988. He also writes a column for 'The Independent'.