The Life Scientific: Kevin Fong

Discovery

BBC

Science, Technology

4.3 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 10 November 2025

⏱️ 27 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

There can't be many people in the world who've saved lives in hospital emergency rooms and also helped care for the wellbeing of astronauts in space – but Kevin Fong’s career has followed a singular path: from astrophysics and trauma medicine, to working with NASA, to becoming an Air Ambulance doctor.

Kevin is a consultant anaesthetist and professor of public engagement and innovation at University College London. He’s worked on the front line in hospitals, dealing with major incidents and helping shape policy; but he's also stayed true to his childhood passion for space, working on multiple projects with NASA and even going through the astronaut application process himself. As if that wasn’t enough, he’s also become a well-known figure in science broadcasting through his various radio and TV shows.

Speaking to Professor Jim Al-Khalili, Kevin admits it hasn't always been an easy path – but his passion for both space and medicine have got him through. And today, he's channelling his energies into ensuring we protect the NHS's most precious commodity: its staff.

Presented by Jim Al-Khalili Produced by Lucy Taylor Revised for World Service by Minnie Harrop

Transcript

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0:00.0	BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, podcasts.
0:07.3	Hello, I'm Kimberly Wilson.
0:09.7	I'm a psychologist, and in my new podcast, Complex, I'll be your guide through all the information
0:15.6	and misinformation that's out there about mental health.
0:19.0	I'm joined by expert guests covering topics from people
0:22.5	pleasing to perfectionism, burnout to empathy, to find tangible advice so we can understand
0:28.4	ourselves a little better. Complex with me, Kimberly Wilson. Listen on BBC Sounds.
0:35.9	Hello, my guest today describes himself as a sort of Doctor Who figure,
0:41.3	who's been lucky enough to enjoy multiple career reinventions.
0:45.4	I don't know how much luck comes into it,
0:47.2	but with a CV that runs from astrophysics and trauma medicine
0:51.3	to working with NASA,
0:53.2	becoming a helicopter emergency doctor, and presenting award-winning science programs,
0:58.3	you do start to wonder whether there might be some time travel involved just to fit everything in.
1:03.6	Kevin Fong is a consultant, anesthetist and professor of public engagement and innovation at University College London.
1:10.4	During his career, he's worked on the
1:12.0	frontline in hospitals, dealing with major incidents and helping shape policy. But Kemmes also stayed
1:18.1	true to his childhood passion for space, working on multiple projects with NASA and even going
1:23.4	through the astronaut application process himself. And as if that wasn't enough, he's also become a well-known figure in science broadcasting
1:30.7	through his various radio and TV shows.
1:33.7	Surely you must have a TARDIS hidden somewhere.
1:36.6	Professor Kevin Fong welcome to the Life Scientific.
	...

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