In our latest Medley Lecture in February 2024, we welcomed award-winning author and research scientist Professor Lewis Dartnell to speak about his latest book, Being Human. 

His research is in the field of astrobiology and the search for microbial life on Mars. He looks for signs of its past existence, how it might survive the bombardment of cosmic radiation on the surface of Mars, and what the best ways are to try and detect it.

He enthralled the audience with multiple examples of how our biology has shaped human history and society. For example, he traced marriage back to two trends in human evolution – walking upright and becoming big brained. With human development consequently needing to extend long after birth, we are reliant on our parents’ care in our first years, requiring parental pair-bonding – which has ultimately led to the creation of a social contract, marriage. 

His enlightening examples were followed by a lively Q&A session in which, amongst other things, pupils asked him what an alien would look like and whether they would they enjoy to music. 

Read more about our other inspiring alumnae in our latest Cloisters magazine