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]

Personal life

Marchant lives in Herne Hill, South London, with her partner and their two children. [11]

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. Marchant, Jo (8 October 2013). "A Day in the Life: Jo Marchant". The Open Notebook. Retrieved 3 August 2025.