Simon Singh

Singh was born in a Sikh family{{cite news|url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/archive/a-life-in-architecture-simon-singh|title=a life in architecture: simon singh|date=8 June 2000|work=Architects' Journal|access-date=8 November 2022}} to parents who emigrated from Punjab, India to Britain in 1950. He is the youngest of three brothers, his eldest brother being Tom Singh, the founder of the UK New Look chain of stores. Singh grew up in Wellington, Somerset, attending Wellington School, and went on to Imperial College London, where he studied physics. He was active in the student union, becoming President of the Royal College of Science Union.{{cite web|url=http://www.imperial.ac.uk/college.asp?P=2579|title=The Simon Singh Interview|date=October 1999|publisher=Imperial College London|access-date=29 November 2009}} Later he completed a PhD in particle physics at the University of Cambridge as a postgraduate student of Emmanuel College, Cambridge while working at CERN, Geneva.{{cite thesis |degree=PhD |first=Simon Lehna|last=Singh |title=Heavy flavour physics at the CERN PP̄ collider |publisher=University of Cambridge |date=1991 |url=http://ulmss-newton.lib.cam.ac.uk/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=13830|id={{EThOS|uk.bl.ethos.385498}}|website=lib.cam.ac.uk|oclc=59965980}}

In 1983, he was part of the UA2 experiment in CERN.{{cite web|url = http://meettheskeptics.libsyn.com/mts-meet-simon-singh|title = Meet Simon Singh|date = 20 July 2013|access-date = 15 January 2014}}

In 1987, Singh taught science at The Doon School, an independent all-boys' boarding school in India.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/brunch/brunch-stories/there-s-math-in-simpsons-simon-says/article1-1171686.aspx|title=There's math in Simpsons, Simon says|work=Hindustan Times|date=12 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112004638/http://www.hindustantimes.com/brunch/brunch-stories/there-s-math-in-simpsons-simon-says/article1-1171686.aspx |archive-date=12 January 2014 }} In 1990 Singh returned to England and joined the BBC's Science and Features Department, where he was a producer and director working on programmes such as Tomorrow's World and Horizon. Singh was introduced to Richard Wiseman through their collaboration on Tomorrow's World. At Wiseman's suggestion, Singh directed a segment about politicians lying in different mediums, and getting the public's opinion on whether the person was lying or not.

File:Simon Singh.jpg

After attending some of Wiseman's lectures, Singh came up with the idea to create a show together, and Theatre of Science was born. It was a way to deliver science to normal people in an entertaining manner. Richard Wiseman has influenced Singh in such a way that Singh states:

{{quote|My writing initially was about pure science but a lot of my research now has been inspired by his desire to debunk things such as the paranormal – we both hate psychics, mediums, pseudoscience in general.{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/richard-wiseman-and-simon-singh-how-we-met-9757880.html | title=Richard Wiseman and Simon Singh: How we met | newspaper=The Independent | author= Jacques, Adam|date=29 September 2014 | access-date=7 October 2021}} }}

Singh directed his BAFTA award-winning documentary about the world's most notorious mathematical problem entitled Fermat's Last Theorem in 1996. The film was memorable for its opening shot of a middle-aged mathematician, Andrew Wiles, holding back tears as he recalled the moment when he finally realised how to resolve the fundamental error in his proof of Fermat's Last Theorem. The documentary was originally transmitted in January 1996 as an edition of the BBC Horizon series. It was also aired in America as part of the NOVA series. The Proof, as it was re-titled, was nominated for an Emmy Award.

The story of this celebrated mathematical problem was also the subject of Singh's first book, Fermat's Last Theorem. In 1997, he began working on his second book, The Code Book, a history of codes and codebreaking. As well as explaining the science of codes and describing the impact of cryptography on history, the book also contends that cryptography is more important today than ever before. The Code Book has resulted in a return to television for him. He presented The Science of Secrecy, a five-part series for Channel 4. The stories in the series range from the cipher that sealed the fate of Mary, Queen of Scots, to the coded Zimmermann Telegram that changed the course of the First World War. Other programmes discuss how two great 19th-century geniuses raced to decipher Egyptian hieroglyphs and how modern encryption can guarantee privacy on the Internet.

File:Simon Singh TAM London 2009.jpg in October 2009]]

On his activities as author he said in an interview to Imperial College London:

{{quote|When I finished my PhD, I knew I wasn't exceptionally good and would never get the Nobel prize. As a kid, I wanted to be a footballer then a commentator. If I couldn't be a physicist, I'd write about it.[http://www.imperial.ac.uk/college.asp?P=2579 The Simon Singh interview] Imperial College, 1999}}

In October 2004, Singh published a book entitled Big Bang, which tells the history of the universe. It is told in his trademark style, by following the remarkable stories of the people who put the pieces together.

File:Singh and Wiseman - EdSciFest 2014 (1).JPG on the Edinburgh International Science Festival (2014)]]

He made headlines in 2005 when he criticised the Katie Melua song "Nine Million Bicycles" for inaccurate lyrics referring to the size of the observable universe. Singh proposed corrected lyrics, though he used the value of 13.7 billion light years; accounting for expansion of the universe, the comoving distance to the edge of the observable universe is 46.5 billion light years.{{cite news|url=http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/comment/story/0,9828,1581826,00.html|title=Katie Melua's bad science|last=Singh|first=Simon|date=30 September 2005|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=12 December 2008 | location=London}}{{cite magazine | last1 = Lineweaver | first1 = Charles | first2 = Tamara M. |last2=Davis | year = 2005 | url = http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=misconceptions-about-the-2005-03&page=5 | title = Misconceptions about the Big Bang | magazine = Scientific American | access-date = 6 November 2008}} BBC Radio 4's Today programme brought Melua and Singh together in a radio studio where Melua recorded a tongue-in-cheek version of the song that had been written by Singh.{{cite web |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/listenagain/listenagain_20051015.shtml |title= Listen Again |publisher= BBC Radio 4 |work= Today Programme |date= 15 October 2005 |access-date= 18 May 2008}}

Singh was part of an investigation about homeopathy in 2006. This investigation was made by the organization Sense about Science.{{cite web|url = http://www.senseaboutscience.org/pages/malaria-and-homeopathy.html|title = Malaria and homeopathy

|access-date = 15 January 2014}}

In the investigation, a student asked ten homeopaths for an alternative to her preventive malaria medication. All ten homeopaths recommended homeopathy as a substitute.{{cite podcast|url =http://www.skepticality.com/dodgy-homeopathy/|title = Dodgy Homeopathy |publisher= Skeptic|host=Fraser Cain|date = 24 October 2006|time=8:50|access-date = 29 July 2014}}

This investigation was reported by the BBC.{{cite news|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/5178122.stm|title = Malaria advice 'risks lives'|publisher = BBC News|date = 13 July 2006|access-date = 15 January 2014}}

Singh is a member of the Advisory Council for the Campaign for Science and Engineering.{{cite web|url=http://www.sciencecampaign.org.uk/about/who/advisory.htm|title=Advisory Council of the Campaign for Science and Engineering|access-date=11 February 2011|archive-date=28 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828110110/http://www.sciencecampaign.org.uk/about/who/advisory.htm|url-status=dead}}

Singh has been involved in television and radio programmes, including Five Numbers (BBC Radio 4, 11 March 2002 to 20 September 2005).{{cite web |last1=Singh |first1=Simon |title=Simon Singh's Numbers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00cl73s/episodes/player |publisher=BBC Radio 4|access-date=24 December 2022}}

In 2003 Singh was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) by Loughborough University, and in 2005 was given an honorary degree in mathematics by the University of Southampton.

In 2006, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Design degree by the University of the West of England "in recognition of Simon Singh's outstanding contribution to the public understanding of science, in particular in the promotion of science, engineering and mathematics in schools and in the building of links between universities and schools".{{cite web|url=http://info.uwe.ac.uk/news/UWEnews/article.asp?item=961|title=UWE awards honorary degree to Dr Simon Singh MBE|date=28 November 2006|work=News 2006|publisher=University of the West of England|access-date=12 December 2008}} This was followed up by his receipt of the Kelvin Medal from the Institute of Physics in 2008, for his achievements in promoting Physics to the general public.{{cite web|url=http://www.iop.org/about/awards/education/kelvin/medallists/page_38639.html|title=The Kelvin Medal and Prize: 2008 Medallist|work=Subject Awards|publisher=Institute of Physics|access-date=12 December 2008}} In July 2008, he was also awarded a degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) by Royal Holloway, University of London.{{cite web|url=https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/alumni/ouralumni/honorarygraduatesandfellows.aspx|title=2008 Honorary Graduates and Fellows become part of a prestigious network|work=Media & Events |publisher=Royal Holloway, University of London|access-date=12 December 2008}}

In July 2011, he was awarded another degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) by the University of Kent at Canterbury for services to Science. In June 2012, Singh was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science (honoris causa) for his contribution to science communication, education and academic freedom by The University of St Andrews.{{cite web|url=http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/news/archive/2012/title,87946,en.php|title=Laureation Address – Dr Simon Singh|author=Tobin, Alyson|publisher=University of St Andrews|date=22 June 2012|access-date=1 June 2013|archive-date=2 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502032809/http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/news/archive/2012/title,87946,en.php|url-status=dead}}

In 2003, Singh was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to science, technology and engineering in education and science communication.{{London Gazette |issue=56963 |date=14 June 2003 |supp=y |page=22 }}

In 2010 he became the inaugural recipient of the Lilavati Award.{{cite web |url = http://www.icm2010.org.in/wp-content/icmfiles/uploads/Leelavati_award_Simon_singh.pdf | title = Simon Singh wins maiden Leelavati Award |publisher=ICM 2010 webpage | date=27 September 2010 }}

In February 2011 he was elected as a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.{{cite web|url=http://www.csicop.org/news/press_releases/show/csi_announces_new_fellows |title= CSI announces new Fellows |date= 7 February 2011 |access-date=7 August 2011}}

Singh was awarded the 2022 IMA-LMS Christopher Zeeman Medal in recognition of his "excellence in the communication of mathematics". The award citation mentioned his work in television, his published books, and his work in mathematics education.{{cite web |last1=Kidwell |first1=Eugene |title=Simon Singh is awarded 2022 Christopher Zeeman Medal |url=https://ima.org.uk/19983/simon-singh-is-awarded-2022-christopher-zeeman-medal/ |website=IMA |access-date=11 December 2024 |date=20 July 2022}}

{{main|British Chiropractic Association v Singh}}

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On 19 April 2008, The Guardian published Singh's column "Beware the Spinal Trap",{{cite news |last=Singh |first=Simon |date=19 April 2008 |title=Beware the spinal trap |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/apr/19/controversiesinscience-health |access-date=21 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081113000000/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/apr/19/health |archive-date=13 November 2008 }} [http://svetlana14s.narod.ru/Simon_Singhs_silenced_paper.html Alt URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120722132746/svetlana14s.narod.ru/Simon_Singhs_silenced_paper.html |date=22 July 2012 }} [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/apr/19/controversiesinscience-health reinstated on 15 April 2010][http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/simon_singh/ Comment is Free], The Guardian an article that was critical of the practice of chiropractic and which resulted in Singh being sued for libel by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA).{{cite news | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mandrake/2570744/Doctors-take-Simon-Singh-to-court.html | title = Doctors take Simon Singh to court |last=Eden |first=R | date=16 August 2008 | work = The Daily Telegraph|location=London|access-date=12 December 2008}}

The article developed the theme of the book that Singh and Edzard Ernst had published, Trick or Treatment? Alternative Medicine on Trial, and made various statements about the lack of usefulness of chiropractic "for such problems as ear infections and infant colic":

{{quote|You might think that modern chiropractors restrict themselves to treating back problems, but in fact they still possess some quite wacky ideas. The fundamentalists argue that they can cure anything. And even the more moderate chiropractors have ideas above their station. The British Chiropractic Association claims that their members can help treat children with colic, sleeping and feeding problems, frequent ear infections, asthma and prolonged crying, even though there is not a jot of evidence. This organisation is the respectable face of the chiropractic profession and yet it happily promotes bogus treatments.}}

When the case was brought against him, The Guardian supported him and funded his legal advice, as well as offering to pay the BCA's legal costs in an out-of-court settlement if Singh chose to settle.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2009/may/13/simon-singh-british-chiropractic-association|title=Science writer accused of libel may take fight to European court|last=Boseley|first=Sarah|date=14 May 2009|work=The Guardian|access-date=19 May 2009 | location=London}}

A "furious backlash"Martin Robbins. [https://www.theguardian.com/science/2010/mar/01/simon-singh-libel-case-chiropractors Furious backlash from Simon Singh libel case puts chiropractors on ropes]. "One in four chiropractors in Britain are under investigation as a result of campaign by Singh supporters." The Guardian, 1 March 2010 to the lawsuit resulted in the filing of formal complaints of false advertising against more than 500 individual chiropractors within one 24-hour period, with one national chiropractic organisation ordering its members to take down their websites,{{cite web |url=http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond/2009/06/chiropractic_group_advises_mem_1.html |title=The Great Beyond: Chiropractic group advises members to 'withdraw from the battleground' |publisher=Nature.com |author=Lucas Laursen |access-date=20 June 2009}}{{cite web

|url = http://skepticzone.libsyn.com/webpage/2014/1

|title = The Skeptic Zone episode 273

|date = 13 January 2014

|access-date = 15 January 2014}} and Nature Medicine noting that the case had gathered wide support for Singh, as well as prompting calls for the reform of English libel laws.{{cite journal | doi = 10.1038/nm0709-723b | year = 2009 | last1 = Willyard | first1 = C. | title = Lawsuit sparks calls for libel law reform | journal = Nature Medicine | volume = 15 | issue = 723 | pages = 723| doi-access = free }} On 1 April 2010, Simon Singh won his court appeal for the right to rely on the defence of fair comment.{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/apr/01/simon-singh-wins-libel-court | newspaper=The Guardian|location=London | title=Simon Singh wins libel court battle | access-date=1 April 2010 | date=1 April 2010}} On 15 April 2010, the BCA officially withdrew its lawsuit, ending the case.{{cite web | url=http://www.elyplace.com/index.aspx?p=1&articleId=208 | publisher=Ely Place | title=British Chiropractic Association v Singh — BCA admits defeat | access-date=15 April 2010 | archive-date=17 April 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100417064047/http://www.elyplace.com/index.aspx?p=1&articleId=208 | url-status=dead }}

To defend himself for the libel suit, Singh's out-of-pocket legal costs were tens of thousands of pounds. The trial acted as a catalyst. The outrage over the initial ruling{{Clarify|reason=An "initial ruling" has not been mentioned – there needs to be a sentence further up saying what the verdict in the court of first instance was. Is this the "furious backlash" of the previous paragraph?|date=May 2024}} brought together several groups to support Singh{{cite web |last1=Grossman |first1=Wendy |authorlink=Wendy Grossman|title=Minding the Gaps: Simon Singh |url=https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/minding-the-gaps-simon-singh/ |website=Skeptical Inquirer |date=8 October 2021 |publisher=Center for Inquiry |access-date=12 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211012021101/https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/minding-the-gaps-simon-singh/ |archive-date=12 October 2021}} and acted as a focus for libel reform campaigners, resulting in all major parties in the 2010 general election making manifesto commitments to libel reform.{{Cite journal | last1 = Singh | first1 = Simon | author-link1 = Simon Singh| title = How English libel law has a global chill on free speech | doi = 10.1016/j.cortex.2011.03.007 | journal = Cortex | volume = 47 | issue = 6 | pages = 643–644 | year = 2011 | pmid = 21458790| s2cid = 20001290 }} {{closed access}}

On 25 April 2013 the Defamation Act 2013 received Royal Assent and became law. The purpose of the reformed law of defamation is to 'ensure that a fair balance is struck between the right to freedom of expression and the protection of reputation'. Under the new law, claimants must show that they suffer serious harm before the court will accept the case. Additional protection for website operators, defence of 'responsible publication on matters of public interest' and new statutory defences of truth and honest opinion are also part of the key areas of the new law.{{cite web|url= http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2012-13/defamation.html|title=Defamation Act 2013|author=British Parliament|date=25 April 2013|author-link=British Parliament}}

• Fermat's Last Theorem (1997) – the theorem's initial conjecture and eventual proof
• The Code Book (1999) – a history of cryptography – {{ISBN|978-1857028799}}
• Big Bang (2004) – discusses models for the origin of the universe – {{ISBN|0007193823}}
• Trick or Treatment?: Alternative Medicine on Trial (2008) (with Edzard Ernst) – examines various types of alternative medicine, finds lack of evidence – {{ISBN|0593061292}}
• The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets (2013) – highlights mathematical references in The Simpsons – {{ISBN|1620402777}}

Singh married journalist and broadcaster Anita Anand in 2007. The couple have two sons and live in Richmond, London.{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/my-perfect-weekend/9459673/My-perfect-weekend-Anita-Anand-radio-and-TV-presenter.html |title=My perfect weekend: Anita Anand, radio and TV presenter |last=Levin |first=Angela |date=7 August 2012 |work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London |access-date=16 December 2018}}{{cite news | url=https://twickenhamtribune.com/PDF/Twickenham%20Tribune%200248.pdf | title=New Richmond Society Patron: Anita Anand|work=Twickenham and Richmond Tribune| date=7 August 2021 | issue=248 | page= 9|access-date=8 August 2021}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb name|id=1320877|name=Simon Singh}}
• [https://simonsingh.net/ Official website]

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Category:1964 births

Category:Living people

Category:Alumni of Emmanuel College, Cambridge

Category:Alumni of Imperial College London

Category:Critics of alternative medicine

Category:The Doon School faculty

Category:English people of Indian descent

Category:English people of Punjabi descent

Category:British writers of Indian descent

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Category:People associated with CERN

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Category:People from Wellington, Somerset

Category:Recreational cryptographers