Exeter evolutionary genomics expert delivers Sir Julian Huxley Lecture 2017

Professor Tom Richards, from the University of Exeter, will deliver the Sir Julian Huxley Lecture 2017, entitled Fungi in the Ocean Deep, at Burlington House in London.

For the lecture, Professor Richards will discuss how recent data demonstrates that aquatic environments host a huge diversity of fungal-like organisms. He will also show the various approaches for investigating the role of fungi in the marine system, including the exploration of deep-sea environments. 

Professor Nick Talbot FRS, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Impact) at the University of Exeter said: “'Tom is one of the brightest talents in evolutionary genomics of fungi and identifying the origins of this major kingdom of organisms.

“He is delivering one of the most prestigious named lectures on his work, which is testament to the high regard in which it is held. 'I am sure it will be an exciting and absorbing  lecture.”

Professor Richards is a Royal Society University Research Fellow, EMBO Young Investigator, Professor of Evolutionary Genomics at the University of Exeter, and a 2017 Miller Visiting Professor at the University of California, Berkeley.

His work focuses on the role of endosymbiosis and horizontal gene transfer in the evolution of the eukaryotes and understanding how the vast diversity of microbial forms fit on to the tree of life.

The Linnean Society of London is the world’s oldest active biological society. Founded in 1788, the Society takes its name from the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus (1707–1778), whose botanical, zoological and library collections have been in its keeping since 1829.

The Society provides a continuous forum for the discussion and advancement of the life sciences. It was at a meeting of the Society in 1858 that papers from Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace outlining the theory of evolution by natural selection were first presented. 

The Sir Julian Huxley Lecture 2017 takes place at 6pm.