Spring Edition 2018

INTERVIEW
From worms to
DINOSAURS
How a tiny invertebrate inspired a life-long love of primates in
evolutionary biologist and broadcaster Ben Garrod
When did you realise you wanted to work in
the sciences?
“I was about three or four, staying with my
grandparents. My granddad took me for walks on
the beach. We returned home one day when it had
been raining and found lots of little red worms over
his garden path. I didn’t understand where they had
come from and my granddad told me they were
moon worms. I was fascinated by them and this was
the first step on my way to becoming a scientist.”
How did your school years influence your career?
“I loved school and learning; I still do. I was
probably a weird student. One day on a run on the
beach, I found a seven-foot long species of British
shark. I thought it would be great to dissect at
lunch time and took it back to school. I will never
forget the look on my biology teacher’s face!”
What are your feelings towards the way the
Sciences are taught within schools?
“It needs to be done properly. There are some
amazing science teachers out there already but I
would like to see more scientists teaching.”
When did you get your first big break?
“I’ve had so many and I’m grateful for them all.
My first was when I met Dr Jane Goodall, my
childhood heroine. We chatted over dinner (I
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