Jo Marchant

{{Short description|British journalist}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}

{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}

Jo Marchant is an English freelance journalist specialising in science and history. After gaining a BSc in genetics from Leicester University{{cite web |last= |first= |date=26 May 2017 |title=Alumna wins top science writers award |url=https://le.ac.uk/news/2017/may/alumna-wins-top-science-writers-award |access-date= |website= |publisher=Leicester University |quote=}} and a PhD in genetics{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/mar/13/jo-marchant-science-writing-curiosity?CMP=twt_fd |title=Jo Marchant on science writing: 'You need a burning curiosity' |website=theguardian.com |date=13 March 2013 |accessdate=6 August 2013}} she became a science writer, and is the author of Decoding the Heavens,{{Cite web|url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20126972-500-review-decoding-the-heavens-by-jo-marchant/|title=Decoding the Heavens by Jo Marchant|last=Collins|first=Paul|date=25 February 2009|website=www.newscientist.com|access-date=16 August 2019}} an exploration of the history and significance of the Antikythera mechanism, The Shadow King: The Bizarre Afterlife of King Tut's Mummy and Cure: A Journey Into the Science of Mind Over Body{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/25/books/review-in-cure-accepting-the-minds-role-in-a-bodys-health.html|title=In 'Cure,' Accepting the Mind's Role in a Body's Health|last=Senior|first=Jennifer|date=24 January 2016|work=New York Times|access-date=16 August 2016}} (shortlisted for the Royal Society Insight Investment Science Book Prize 2016).{{Cite web|url=https://royalsociety.org/news/2016/08/shortlist-for-science-book-prize-2016-unveiled/|title=Shortlist for The Royal Society Insight Investment Science Book Prize 2016 unveiled|website=royalsociety.org|access-date=2016-09-22}} A former editor of the science journal Nature and opinion editor at New Scientist magazine in London, she has written for The Guardian and The Economist.

Marchant writes that "the idea for Decoding the Heavens came about in November 2006, when I was an editor at the science journal Nature. A research paper was due to be published revealing the workings of a sophisticated ancient device called the Antikythera mechanism. The story grabbed me immediately, and I was desperate to find out more about this mysterious contraption. I travelled to Athens to see the remains of the mechanism, and to meet those who have studied it and hear their stories."{{cite web |url=http://www.decodingtheheavens.com/author.aspx |title=About Jo Marchand |website=decodingtheheavens.com |accessdate=6 August 2013 |archive-date=28 July 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120728000443/http://www.decodingtheheavens.com/author.aspx |url-status=dead }}