Explore every episode of the podcast Journeys in Science and Faith

Sir Ghillean Prance has spent a lifetime exploring the Amazon rainforest, discovering extraordinary plants and helping protect the natural world. As former Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, he helped establish the Millennium Seed Bank and shape the Eden Project.

But behind his remarkable scientific career lies a deeply personal story of faith.

In this episode of Journeys in Science and Faith, Professor Andrew C. Scott discovers how a young botanist found Christianity at Oxford, ventured deep into the Amazon, worked alongside Indigenous communities and missionary pilots, and came to believe that his faith was central to his scientific achievements. From medicinal plants and rainforest expeditions to conservation, Darwin and the future of our planet, Sir Ghillean shares why he believes science and faith belong together.

"I wouldn't have gone this far in my botanical career if it wasn't for the stability of my Christian faith."

Journeys in Science and Faith — extraordinary scientists, remarkable discoveries and the beliefs that shaped their lives. New episodes every Thursday.

In this episode, Professor Andrew C. Scott speaks with Professor Rev. David Wilkinson about his journey through science and faith.

David Wilkinson is an astrophysicist, theologian, Methodist minister, and former Principal of St John’s College, Durham. He is also a professor in Durham University’s Department of Theology and Religion, a director of Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science, and a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4’s Thought for the Day.

The conversation explores his work at the intersection of cosmology, theology, and Christian ministry, reflecting on how scientific discovery can deepen rather than diminish faith. Andrew and David discuss wonder, creation, vocation, and how Christians can engage confidently with science today.