It is a warm September day when I ring the doorbell of the ivy-covered Trinity Master’s Lodge. As I wait outside, I begin to wonder what sort of person will answer the door of this impressive building. It is not long before I find out when a smiling Lord Rees opens the door.

Martin Rees, or Baron Rees of Ludlow to give him his official title, is one of Britain’s most celebrated and pre-eminent scientists. A contemporary of Stephen Hawking he was, until his term ended last year, the 59th President of the Royal Society. A man of extraordinary intellect but one who has, in the past, been accused of alarmism: his 2004 popular science novel is entitled Our Final Century: The 50/50 threat to Humanity’s survival.

Lord Rees ushers me through to the Lodge. As the building that houses the Master of the richest Oxbridge college, the Lodge does not disappoint; the rooms are vast with the walls oak-paneled and adorned with grand portraits.

We walk and talk. I ask Lord Rees whether he can verify the credibility of a myth that surrounds the Trinity Master’s Lodge. It is claimed that this building is the official residence of the Sovereign when visiting Cambridge. As with all Cambridge myths there appears to be some truth in it; Lord Rees explains that, though the present Queen has never stayed here, Queen Victoria was once a lodger.

We settle into one of the lounges where I begin by asking Lord Rees about the current state of Higher Edu- cation funding and the rise in tuition fees. Rees tells me he thinks that “the government’s scheme was not fully thought through before it was implemented” and he goes as far to say the policy “will have very damaging con- sequences for the university system in general”.

Although Rees sits as a cross-bench peer in the House of Lords, his political views are most closely aligned to ‘Old Labour’, he tells me. To Rees it is important for higher education “to be open to anyone” and for it not to be the privilege of a select few.

With these political views, it comes as no surprise that Rees does not view the US university model with particular admiration. He tells me that he has seen these universities but has “never felt tempted to move.”

He adds: “When you look at Universities, it is one of the few areas where Britain is strong. Britain offers far more ‘brain-per-buck’ than the big US universities.”

We move to the subject of the Chancellor election where I have a chance to find out Rees’ view on the University’s official candidate, Lord Sainsbury. “I personally do think David Sainsbury is an extraordinarily good candidate in that he is very committed to education and science.”

It is quite clear from our conversation that Rees has great admiration for Lord Sainsbury and respects how he has used his family’s great wealth to help many worthwhile causes.

With regards to the first actively contested Chancellor election in 163 years, he believes there is no harm in it. He cites Oxford where they routinely have contested elections for the Chancellorship. However, he says it is true that the candidates running against Sainsbury are not credible, which is perhaps neither desirable nor beneficial for the University.

It would perhaps not be proper to interview one of the world’s greatest scientists without speaking about Science itself.

I ask Lord Rees about the recent news of neutrinos supposedly traveling at speeds greater than that of light; an impossibility in Physics as the speed of light is viewed to be a constant. He tells me: “I would bet overwhelmingly that this is a measurement problem. My view is that there will almost certainly be some uncertainty in this measurement. I think it a misjudgment of the group to even release this result.”

He quotes an old dictum that “extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.”

I decide it is time to ask Rees about his alarmist reputation and ask him why he thinks there is a 50% chance of a setback to civilisation in the next century.

“What is clear is that we are collectively putting more pressure on the environment. Furthermore, with modern technology, small groups can have a more disruptive effect,” he says.

This year, Rees released a book entitled From Here to Infinity which consolidates and adds to his 2010 Reith lectures broadcast on BBC Radio 4. This brief and highly readable book gives an update on Rees’ views of these issues.

Another issue raised in Rees’ book is his view that we should devote resources to searching for extra-terrestrial life. He tells me the discovery of new planets is one of the most exciting developments in science and poses a serious question of whether there is life on these planets.

Before ending our interview I ask Lord Rees to provide some thoughts on his time as President of the Royal Society. He describes his five-year term as a privilege. It was “an opportunity to raise the profile of science” and brought him into contact with a great range of issues.

What becomes apparent after speak- ing with Lord Rees for a considerable amount of time is his eloquence. He has a uniquely clear way of engaging with you and puts great thought into answering questions.

In June next year, Lord Rees will finish his term as Master of Trinity College. He is a fascinating man that appears to have done more in one life- time than many could muster in two. His passion for Science is palpable and it is thus no surprise that he plans to devote a great deal of time to promoting science in the House of Lords after leaving Trinity next year.