#195 Professor Luke O'Neill - Professor of biochemistry in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College Dublin

Sleep Eat Perform Repeat

Today we spoke with Professor Luke O'Neill - Professor of biochemistry in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College Dublin

Professor Luke O'Neill is a world-renowned scientist, who has a passion to engage with the general public on scientific topics - he is amazing at using simple and clear language to explain complex things! Professor Luke O'Neill has been recognised for his effort to popularise science, and in raising the profile and awareness around the value of science to human progress.

A regular presence on national radio and tv (such as Newstalk, and RTE), Luke has also published several books including 'Keep Calm and Trust the Science: an extraordinary year in the life of an immunologist', his diary covering the COVID19 pandemic, An Post Irish book of the year award winner for best popular non-fiction book for ‘Never Mind the B*ll*cks, Here’s the Science’, 'The Great Irish Science Book', 'Humanology: A Scientist's Guide to our Amazing Existence', and most recently 'What makes us human - a scientist's guide to our amazing existence', with Gill publishers.

We spoke about energy and how he manages all his projects, dinner table conversations at home, and his love for music - plus the link with science. We unpack developments in neurodegenerative illness and cancer research and what learnings we have taken from the pandemic in that regard. Luke talks about hormones, his breakfast routine, and his managerial role in the lab - the Pep of Trinity, the gaffer as we called him!

Professor Luke O'Neill is a highly skilled communicator, loves the challenges that science gives him...and has a wonderful zest and vigour. Enjoy this one - we certainly did!

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Highlights:

• 📖 Prof O’Neill’s new book ‘What Makes Us Human’
• 💉 What getting vaccinated is so important
• 🔬 How funding and research can target cancer and neurodegenerative research
• ☕ Luke’s morning routine to be a highly effective researcher and scientist
• 🦠 Why he hopes more young people will pursue science and why we need them

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Timestamps:

• (4:06) - Morning routine of scientists - To-do list, coffee, and the benefit of cold showers/sea dip
• (7:23) - Maintaining energy in professional life. The 4 buckets of Prof O' Neill, professional life - his lab - creating new medication. communications, and
• (8:15) - Encouraging young people to take an interest in science.
• (12:11) - The role of the immune system and its day-to-day function
• (13:42) - The success of COVID-19 vaccines
• (18:42) - Vaccine immunity, winter month viruses, and what we should do
• (20:26) - Prof O'Neill's new book 'What makes Us human'
• (24:15) - Luke's love of music
• (26:18) - Raising a family of scientists
• (35: 00) - Mini breaks, and doing nothing…with a purpose
• (39:51) - What does high performance mean to you?