On the 20th September, we launched our first St Benedict's Lecture Series of this term with the evolutionary Biologist, Conservationist and Author, Ben Garrod, who delivered a stimulating lecture on why some species go extinct and what we can do to save endangered species.

As our fifth annual Richard Baker Science Lecture got underway, we were delighted to welcome Old Priorians, parents, staff and pupils to our inaugural Lecture Series.

It is impossible to predict how the high extinction rates that humans are causing could affect our planet.

Lower Sixth student, Paul reviews the talk for us:

The Richard Baker Science Lecture on Wednesday 20th September was very informative and eye-opening. This lecture unveiled new perspectives on the topic of extinction as Professor Ben Garrod not only commented on the negative impacts of extinction, but also highlighted how there are positives that unfold from species dying out. Outlining extinction as crucial to creating opportunities for new life forms and species was an interesting approach to this topic. He spoke explaining the evolution of living organisms throughout time, revealing how mass extinction events such as the End Permian, 250 million years ago, and the asteroid that collided with the earth, 66 million years ago, may have destroyed countless species due to changing conditions on the Earth. However, these changing conditions allowed other organisms to evolve and flourish. As the lecture concluded, he emphasised how it is impossible to predict how the high extinction rates that humans are causing could affect our planet; but investigating this as a biologist, travelling around the world spontaneously is very fulfilling.

Mass extinction events such as the End Permian, 250 million years ago, and the asteroid that collided with the earth, 66 million years ago, may have destroyed countless species due to changing conditions on the Earth.

Thank you to everyone who attended and supported us on the evening.