Jo Marchant
British journalist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jo Marchant is an English freelance journalist and author specialising in science and history. She holds a BSc in genetics from University of Leicester[1] and a PhD in genetics.[2]
Career
Marchant began her career as a science writer and editor, serving as an editor at the science journal Nature and as opinion editor at New Scientist magazine in London.[2] She has contributed to several major publications, including Scientific American,[3] New Scientist,[2] Aeon,[4] and Smithsonian Magazine.[5]
She is the author of several books, including:
- Decoding the Heavens (2009), an exploration of the history and significance of the Antikythera mechanism[6]
- The Shadow King (2013), a study of the afterlife and scientific legacy of Tutankhamun
- Cure: A Journey into the Science of Mind Over Body (2016), which investigates the mind-body connection and was shortlisted for the Royal Society Insight Investment Science Book Prize in 2016[7][8]
- The Human Cosmos: Civilization and the Stars (2020), which explores how the stars have shaped human history, imagination, and belief systems[9]
Marchant has said the idea for her first book, *Decoding the Heavens*, "came about in November 2006, when I was an editor at the science journal Nature. A research paper was due to be published revealing the workings of a sophisticated ancient device called the Antikythera mechanism. The story grabbed me immediately, and I was desperate to find out more about this mysterious contraption. I travelled to Athens to see the remains of the mechanism, and to meet those who have studied it and hear their stories."[10]
She was awarded the 2023 Watson, Helen, Miles, and Audrey Davis Prize by the History of Science Society for The Human Cosmos.[11]
Personal life
Marchant lives in Herne Hill, South London, with her partner and their two children.[12]