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Matt Ridley is a distinguished science writer, journalist, and businessman, recognized for his insightful contributions to scientific, environmental, and economic discourse.
Matt Ridley joined The Economist in 1984, first working as a science editor until 1987, then as Washington, D.C. correspondent from 1987 to 1989 and as American editor from 1990 to 1992.
In 1994, Ridley became a board member of the UK bank Northern Rock. He became chairman in 2004. He resigned as chairman in October 2007 following a financial crisis.
From 1996 to 2003, Ridley served as founding chairman of the International Centre for Life, which opened in 2000 as a non-profit science centre in Newcastle upon Tyne; and is now its honorary life president.
From 2010 to 2013, Ridley wrote the weekly "Mind and Matter" column for The Wall Street Journal, which explores the science of human nature and its implications.
Since 2013, Ridley has written a weekly column for The Times on science, the environment, and economics.
Ridley wrote the majority of the main article of the August 2017 edition of BBC Focus magazine.
Matthew White Ridley, born on February 7, 1958, in Northumberland, England, is known for his work as a science writer, journalist, and businessman. He pursued his education at Eton College from 1970 to 1975, followed by Magdalen College, Oxford, where he studied zoology. He earned a BA degree with first-class honours and later completed his Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1983, with research focused on the mating system of the common pheasant.
Ridley began his professional career in journalism, joining The Economist in 1984. He served as the science editor until 1987, then transitioned to a role as a Washington, D.C. correspondent from 1987 to 1989, and subsequently as the American editor from 1990 to 1992. He also contributed as a columnist for The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph. From 2010 to 2013, Ridley penned the weekly “Mind and Matter” column for The Wall Street Journal, exploring the science of human nature. Since 2013, he has maintained a weekly column for The Times, covering science, environmental topics, and economics. His journalistic efforts have been instrumental in popularizing scientific concepts and engaging public discourse on critical issues. In 2017, the August edition of BBC Focus magazine featured his main article, addressing his skepticism regarding resource depletion and challenging prevailing beliefs on the subject.
In addition to his media endeavors, Ridley held significant business roles, notably as a board member of Northern Rock starting in 1994, becoming chairman in 2004. During his tenure, the bank experienced a financial crisis in 2007, leading to its nationalisation and his resignation. From 1996 to 2003, he was the founding chairman of the International Centre for Life in Newcastle upon Tyne, a non-profit science center, where he now holds the position of honorary life president. Ridley also served as a non-executive director for PA Holdings Limited and as a governor for the Ditchley Foundation. He has authored several popular science books, including “The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature” (1993), “Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters” (1999), and “The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves” (2010), many of which have received critical acclaim and awards, including the Samuel Johnson Prize nominations and the Davis Prize for the history of science. He inherited the viscountcy in 2012, becoming the 5th Viscount Ridley, and served as an elected hereditary peer in the House of Lords from 2013 until his retirement in 2021.
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