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About this talk

Traditionally, if a species becomes extinct, it is gone forever. But new and extraordinary opportunities for rewilding and de-extinction are transforming how de-extinction might be achieved. Whenever de-extinction hits the headlines, the stories tend to focus on the past, whether reviving lost species or recreating ecosystems. Historian of science Sadiah Qureshi will explore the history of de-extinction, and whether it offers a chance of building radically different futures and not just a means of reversing extinction. De-extinction may redefine what counts as extinction in technical, philosophical and emotional terms and possibly even what it means to be alive. Copies of Sadiah's book "Vanished: An Unnatural History of Extinction" will be available for purchase after the talk. About the Speaker: Sadiah Qureshi holds a Chair in Modern British History at the University of Manchester. Her latest book Vanished: An Unnatural History of Extinction (Allen Lane, 2025) was shortlisted for the Royal Society's Trivedi Science Book Prize. She cannot bear the thought of living in a world without birdsong, trees, or tigers. Doors to the theatre will open at 6.45pm and the talk will begin at 7.00pm.

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