London's 1000 most influential people 2012: Innovators, Scientists

London might not be Silicon Valley but it is gaining a reputation as a technology hub, with thousands of start-ups heading to the East End — dubbed Tech City. The capital’s rich history of innovation in science and medicine means there is a fantastic eco-system in place to support this brave new world of ideas.
SCIENTIST Brian Cox
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8 November 2012

Brian Cox
TV presenter and scientist
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The pin-up professor is a former keyboard player with the band D:Ream who has now made physics cool with his programme The Wonders of the Universe. He reels off facts and figures and breaks down complicated concepts so that they make sense.

Stephen Hawking
Scientist
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Cemented his reputation as the world’s most famous living scientist with an appearance in the Paralympic opening ceremony, surpassing his cameos in The Simpsons and Star Trek. His most significant contributions have been a framework of general relativity and the bestseller A Brief History of Time. Despite being diagnosed with motor neurone disease aged 21, the Cambridge professor has had an illustrious career.

Sir Paul Nurse
Royal Society president
The Nobel Prize-winning geneticist specialises in researching what controls the division and shape of cells, which is relevant to many diseases, particularly cancer. Previous posts include professor of microbiology at the University of Oxford. He has spoken out about the importance of scientists being willing to talk to the wider public and challenging politicians who support motions based on pseudo-science.

Roger Highfield
Science Museum director of external affairs
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The first person to bounce a neutron off a soap bubble during his DPhil in physical chemistry at Oxford University and the Institut Laue-Langevin in Grenoble. He edited New Scientist between 2008 and 2011 and is now director of external affairs at the Science Museum, where he is introducing the wonders of science to the next generation.

Stephen Emmott
Microsoft Research head of computational science
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The star academic who heads Microsoft’s Computational Science Laboratory in Cambridge is so concerned about the effects of the rocketing global population that he took to the stage this year in a solo theatrical production at the Royal Court. In Ten Billion, directed by Katie Mitchell, he expounded his grim message, and got rave reviews for the way he drew the public’s attention.

Chris Stringer
Natural History Museum research leader in human origins
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As Britain’s foremost expert on evolution, he is a pioneer in this rapidly changing field, and is a leading proponent of the single origin theory. An author of many books, including the award-winning Homo Britannicus, and a West Ham fan.

Simon Singh
Writer and campaigner
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The best-selling author of Fermat’s Last Theorem, Singh makes advanced maths and science feel accessible. He is also a dedicated freedom of speech campaigner, after winning a libel case brought against him by the British Chiropractic Association.

Hossein Yassaie
Imagination Technologies chief executive
NEW ENTRY
The Iranian-born chief of Imagination Technologies has adopted Britain as his home. He is the man behind the graphic technology used in iPhones and iPads as well as the maker of Pure digital radios. Passionate about the future of British IT, he says what we need is a David Beckham of technology for children to aspire to be.

Lord Winston
Imperial College professor of science
Pioneering fertility expert, BBC broadcaster and Labour peer who shows no sign of slowing down despite being 70 years old. He has been a measured critic of the NHS reforms and when he talks, Middle England listens. Strongly believes that fertility treatment should not be commercialised.

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