In the vastness of space, many scientists are convinced that we must not be alone in the universe. But what might aliens look like, and how do artists bring them to life in science fiction?
Humans have long been enthralled by the prospect of meeting off-planet neighbours. Throughout the history of science fiction—from H.G. Wells malevolent visitors in War of the Worlds to the fantastical creatures of the Star Wars universe—we have long attempted to conjure up visions of weird, wild and wonderful creatures.
In this discussion, a panel of experts, with backgrounds in zoology, linguistics, astrobiology and visual effects, come together to shed light on how extraterrestrials may look and behave, and the process involved in dreaming up convincing aliens for the big screen.
Speakers include:
- Dr Arik Kershenbaum—Lecturer in the Department of Zoology at University of Cambridge and author of The Zoologist’s Guide to the Galaxy.
- Dr Bettina Beinhoff—Senior Lecturer of Applied Linguistics and English Language at Anglia Ruskin University.
- Simon Green—A lead creature artist in the film industry who has worked with Disney, Marvel and Netflix.
- Professor Lewis Dartnell—Astrobiology research scientist, presenter and author of Life in the Universe (2007) and Origins: How the Earth Made Us (2019).
- Qasa Alom (Chair)—Investigative journalist who has presented numerous documentaries and programmes for TV and radio across various BBC outlets, including BBC Radio 4 and Radio 5 Live.
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