Jo Marchant

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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]

Contents

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:

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]

References

  1. ↑ "Alumna wins top science writers award". University of Leicester. 26 May 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 "Jo Marchant on science writing: 'You need a burning curiosity'". The Guardian. 13 March 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  3. ↑ "Jo Marchant – Author Profile". Scientific American. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  4. ↑ "Jo Marchant – Aeon Author Profile". Aeon. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  5. ↑ "Jo Marchant – Author Profile". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  6. ↑ Collins, Paul (25 February 2009). "Decoding the Heavens by Jo Marchant". New Scientist. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  7. ↑ Senior, Jennifer (24 January 2016). "In 'Cure,' Accepting the Mind's Role in a Body's Health". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  8. ↑ "Shortlist for The Royal Society Insight Investment Science Book Prize 2016 unveiled". The Royal Society. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  9. ↑ "The Human Cosmos by Jo Marchant". Penguin Random House. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  10. ↑ "About Jo Marchant". decodingtheheavens.com. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  11. ↑ "Watson, Helen, Miles, and Audrey Davis Prize". History of Science Society. Archived from the original on 22 March 2025. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  12. ↑ Marchant, Jo (8 October 2013). "A Day in the Life: Jo Marchant". The Open Notebook. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
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