astrophysics MARTIN REES science is the one truly global culture. the planet needs more socially engaged scientists to raise public awareness about the looming ecological disaster. it’s time to force politicians to act interview by HANS ULRICH OBRIST portrait by OLA RINDAL HANS ULRICH OBRIST — I was wondering if there was an epiphany, or a sudden revelation, that led you to cosmology and astrophysics. How did it all start? MARTIN REES — No, I didn’t have any epiphany at all. I came rather gradually to astronomy. When I was at school, I specialized in science, more because I was bad at languages than for any other reason. I turned out to be good at mathematics, so it seemed natural to study that subject at university. But I quickly realized I was not cut out to be a mathematician and preferred a more “synoptic” subject, where I could apply my…