What Is Life and How Might It Be Sustained?: Reflections in a Pandemic

How did the universe and life begin and what are the threats to people and the environment in a pandemic? This book is for anybody with interest in protecting life on the planet. Studies on the origin of life and scientific contributions to safeguarding the planet are examined in light of current thinking on climate change. A major focus is the spread of microbes, put in the context of environmental assessment and management, including descriptions of microbiomes and a consideration of the risks of genetic modifications. Professor Lynch shows how failure to control disease can lead to the collapse of any biotic population. To avoid this, the ethics of management of disease by biological control and by vaccination are discussed, at the practical level and in a moral theological context.

Jim Lynch graduated with BTech in Industrial Chemistry from Loughborough University, and then completed his PhD and DSc in Microbiology at Kings College London. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Royal Society of Biology, the Royal Geographical Society, the Royal Society of Arts, and is a Chartered Chemist, Biologist, Scientist, and Environmentalist. He has worked at BBSRC research institutes, universities as visiting professor (Oxford, Reading, Kings College London, Imperial College, Washington State, Oregon State and Helsinki), and companies as non-executive director or advisor. Prof. Lynch was Dean of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Surrey, Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission Research Agency, Chairman of the Biology Division of the International Union of Soil Sciences, Coordinator of the OECD Research Programme on Biological Resource Management, Board Member of the European Forest Institute, Chair of Governors University of Chichester, and is Distinguished Professor of Life Sciences Emeritus at the Centre for Environment and Sustainability, University of Surrey. He has travelled extensively giving more than 60 keynote international lectures and published or edited 15 books previously and 300 papers and patents, as well as serving on many international boards. He was awarded the UNESCO Prize in Microbiology and Einstein Medal, Distinguished Scientist of the US Department of Agriculture, and the Japanese Government Research Award for Foreign Specialists. He is an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (KHS), and a Freeman of the City of London. Prof. Lynch is a keen sportsman and is married to Mary; they have four children and seven grandchildren.