The Earth: Biography of a Connected Planet

Palaeontologist and writer Dr Elsa Panciroli explores some of the incredible tales from her book, The Earth: A Biography of Life, as told by the rocks, plants, and animals that have shaped our world.

With a history that stretches back 4.6 billion years, telling the story of our planet is no easy feat. Dr Elsa Panciroli's latest book, The Earth: A Biography of Life, was the original inspiration for the Connected Planet exhibition. In it, she discusses some of the most fascinating organisms that have shaped our world. From ancient fungi as tall as houses to space-faring flies, her upcoming talk will reveal some of the most incredible organisms to have shaped scientific knowledge, and highlight the surprising connections between them. Discover how even the smallest organisms have a fundamental impact on climate, soils, and the pattern of life itself.

Suitable for adults and young people aged 13+.

Talk begins at 18:00, doors open from 17:30.

Admission is free

Find out more about the exhibition.

About the speaker:

Dr Elsa Panciroli is a Leverhulme Early Career Research Fellow at Oxford University Museum of Natural History and an Affiliate Researcher at National Museums Scotland, where she completed her PhD on Scottish Jurassic mammal fossils from the Kilmaluag Formation on Skye. Dr Panciroli uses X-ray tomography and digital visualisation to understand the anatomy and growth of the first mammals and their closest relatives. Her current research focuses on mammals from the Mesozoic, a time associated with the origin of major groups of organisms and ways of life.

Accessibility information:

For more information, please visit our accessibility webpage, or contact Ellie Grillo (ellena.grillo@oum.ox.ac.uk).