Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

This week on Ideas we feature an episode of the BBC's Forum programme which takes a look at the revolutions in sex and science and the transforming power of laughter in the ancient world.

The panel is: Austrian-born chemist, author, playwright and 'father of the Contraceptive Pill' Professor Carl Djerassi who discusses the divorce of sex and reproduction in the 21st Century: British Classicist Mary Beard tells some ancient Roman jokes as she explores how laughter travels across time and culture; and American scientist Harold Varmus who won a Nobel prize for his work on cancer and is now a scientific advisor to President Obama. He speaks about the revolution he is leading to democratise science and change the way in which scientific ideas are shared. He wants to free the flow of scientific discoveries to make the latest findings accessible to everyone, scientist and non scientist the world over, regardless of their ability to pay.