Triffids: limited to fiction?

Run time: 13.30 – 14.30

People have been moving species around the globe for centuries, long before Darwin reflected on this. Perhaps the most famous for doing so were the Victorian plant hunters. Once contained to ornamental gardens, some of these species now dominate our landscapes and are classified as invasive species. These are considered one of the top five causes of the global nature crisis and are expected to become more of an issue in the face of the climate crisis.
 

In the popular novel ‘The Day of the Triffids' by John Wyndham, venomous, carnivorous plants gain sentience, causing havoc across the globe. Tomos Jones from the University of Reading and North Wales Wildlife Trust will use the Environmental Sciences Award Lecture to draw parallels between fiction and the real world, showing how the book could help us understand some of the issues arising from invasive species. 

For access information and directions to this venue, and all British Science Festival venues, please click this link https://britishsciencefestival.org/british-science-festival-2023-venues