This week Adam is in conversation with Sir John Cadogan, eminent Welsh chemist and President of the Learned Society of Wales.

Broadcast Tuesday 22nd March at 7pm.

Listen to the latest programme online

Sir John Cadogan was born in Pembrey, Carmarthenshire, and educated at Swansea Grammar School. He went on to carve out a distinguished career, first in university teaching and research before moving across to industry to spearhead BP's research division. He's a former President of the Royal Society of Chemistry and he was the first Director General of the UK Research Councils. Last year he became the Inaugural President of the Learned Society of Wales.

As part of Science Cafe's celebration of the International Year of Chemistry in 2011, Adam meets Sir John Cadogan at his home near Swansea for a lively and wide-ranging conversation. They look back over Sir John's scientific career and discuss the importance of pure scientific research, his concerns about the effectiveness of renewable energy sources and why it's taken so long for Wales to get its own Learned Society.

The Learned Society of Wales