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This year鈥檚 Beatty Lecture bridged the worlds of arts and science, bringing together an Irish writer and a Danish evolutionary geneticist to discuss shared concerns, including balancing creativity with rationality and the importance of storytelling in both their fields. 听

For the fourth year, the lecture was emceed by Nahlah Ayed, host of CBC Radio鈥檚 Ideas.听听

C贸nal Creedon, an award-winning Irish novelist, playwright and filmmaker, captivated the audience with his recollection of his first reading that made him realize the rewards and compromises of life as a writer.听

鈥淚 realized that it wasn鈥檛 about the reading or the event. Everything in life, everything we do is all about people 鈥� engaging with people. We masquerade it as different things like business, commerce, politics, sport and arts, but it is all about people meeting people,鈥� he reflected.听

Storytellers鈥� unique role

Creedon also talked about the storyteller鈥檚 unique role, noting, 鈥淸They] are the keeper of the flame. They can give a level of immortality to an era. In a way, the storyteller becomes more important than the story they tell.鈥�

He concluded his lecture with a reading from the final page of Passion Play, his bestselling 1999 novel, in which the protagonist鈥檚 kaleidoscopic journey of redemption highlights the contrasts at the heart of storytelling.

鈥淗eaven and hell. Good and bad. Happy and sad, they are actually just two sides of the same coin, and it鈥檚 all about perception and perspective,鈥� Creedon explained.

An 鈥榓ccidental scientist鈥�

As a youngster, Eske Willerslev never saw himself as a scientist. He recounted his unconventional path to science, and how letting his curiosity wander and reframing questions led him to pioneer new discoveries, including the world鈥檚 oldest DNA.

Now a leader in the field of environmental DNA, Willerslev shared how even the smallest discoveries can make the biggest impact: 鈥淵ou make a discovery [鈥�] but it鈥檚 changing the way that we鈥檙e looking at something. And it鈥檚 you who did it. This is the most valuable part of my work. I can鈥檛 describe the joy I had in that moment. Nothing beats the discovery.鈥�

He spoke about his current focus on climate change and sustainable food sources and how his early work is now providing a roadmap for tackling threats to our planet, such as global warming.

Two worlds collide

After the lectures, Ayed brought Creedon and Willerslev together to discuss the links between the arts and sciences, and where their work intersects, including how they each measure success in their work and the importance of storytelling, not only in literature but in science.

For 70 years, the Beatty Lecture has fostered 鈥渃hange through exchange鈥� by bringing some of the world鈥檚 leading thinkers to McGill. This year鈥檚 lecture was held Oct. 22.

The Lecture is produced by McGill鈥檚 Office of Research and Innovation in collaboration with University Advancement, and this year in partnership with the World Cultural Council (WCC). Since 1984, the WCC has held an annual awards ceremony at different universities around the world, recognizing outstanding scientists, educators and artists whose work enriches global culture. This year鈥檚 ceremony took place at McGill on Oct. 23, when Creedon received the 2024 Leonardo da Vinci World Award of Arts and Willerslev received the 2024 Albert Einstein World Award of Science.

of the 2024 Beatty Lecture on McGill鈥檚 YouTube channel.

The 2024 Beatty Lecture and discussion between C贸nal Creedon, Eske Willerslev and Nahlah Ayed will be featured on an episode of .