Merlin Sheldrake | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1987 (age 37–38) |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | University of Cambridge (PhD) |
| Occupation(s) | Mycologist, writer |
| Employer | Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam |
| Organization | Society for the Protection of Underground Networks |
| Known for | Work on mycorrhiza; advocacy for fungi; book Entangled Life |
| Notable work | Entangled Life |
| Spouse | Erin Robinsong |
| Parent(s) | Rupert Sheldrake and Jill Purce |
| Relatives | Cosmo Sheldrake (brother) |
| Awards | Royal Society Science Book Prize (2021) |
| Website | merlinsheldrake |
Merlin Sheldrake (born 1987) is a British mycologist and writer known for his work on mycorrhiza.
Merlin Sheldrake was born in 1987 in London to Rupert Sheldrake, an English author and parapsychology researcher, and Jill Purce, a therapist. [1] [2] He grew up near Hampstead Heath in London. [3] His brother, Cosmo Sheldrake, is a musician. As a teenager, Sheldrake was influenced by Paul Stamets, a self-taught "fungal evangelist," and Karl von Frisch's book Animal Architecture. [4]
Sheldrake received his undergraduate degree from the University of Cambridge in biological sciences, where he also earned a master's degree in the history and philosophy of science and later a PhD in tropical ecology. [5] He studied underground fungal networks in Panama's tropical forests as a predoctoral research fellow at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. [2] [6]
In 2020, Sheldrake published his first book, Entangled Life , which was a bestseller in both The Sunday Times and The New York Times booklists and received the 2021 Royal Society Science Book Prize. [7] [8] Entangled Life has positioned Merlin Sheldrake as a leading advocate for fungi. [4] He has presented an IMAX film called Fungi: Web of Life which was narrated by Björk and filmed in Tasmania's Tarkine rainforest. [9] [10]
Inspired by Sheldrake's book, couture designer Iris van Herpen created a collection based on fungi, featuring designs mimicking chanterelle mushrooms and hyphae. [4] [11]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sheldrake and his brother co-founded a business called Sheldrake & Sheldrake that sells fermented hot sauce. [4]
In 2021, Sheldrake consulted on Stella McCartney's fungal-themed Paris runway show, which featured a soundtrack by his brother, Cosmo Sheldrake that used a device to convert mycelium's electrical signals into musical notes. [4] [12] [13]
Sheldrake works with the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks, which aims to map and protect global mycorrhizal diversity. [14] He also works with mycologist Giuliana Furci and NYU law professor César Rodríguez Garavito to create legal protections for fungi, contributing to a larger movement that aims to provide legal representation for non-human living entities. [4] [15]
Since 2023, he has been a research associate at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands. [4] In November 2023, Tatler described Sheldrake as a figure-heard of the new vanguard of Bopeas, or "Bohemian Peasants", a socio-cultural group evolving from the Bobos who combine creative expression with a neo-medieval rooted "peasant" worldview. [16]
Sheldrake is married to the poet Erin Robinsong. [4]