Tea, Tales, and Test Tubes: Award-winning Author Elizabeth Shreeve Talks Dinosaurs To Dragons

We'd love your feedback. Send us a message. What do house-sitting for a world-renowned scientist, a fascination for deep time and dinosaurs, being a self-confessed book dragon, and drinking copious quantities of tea have in common? Absolutely nothing… unless, of course, you’re Elizabeth Shreeve! And luckily for us, she is our guest today.  In today's episode, we are continuing our exploration of the intersection between science, storytelling, and wonder and trace a thrilling path from deep time to legend, exploring how fossils, misunderstood animals, and cultural storytelling may have sparked myths like mermaids, griffins, sea serpents, and of course dragons. If you love science books for kids, dinosaurs, folklore, and the hidden history inside stories, this conversation is for you.One thing about our chat that I hope will stand out for all listeners is Elizabeth's unusual route into writing. Starting with a science and arts childhood, studying geology at Harvard, learning in the orbit of Stephen Jay Gould and E O Wilson, then a long career in landscape architecture and urban planning before she turned fully to books - it all reinforces what the Tea, Tales, and Test Tubes segment of this podcast keeps discussing. The wonder of scientific inquiry isn't only found in classrooms and in labs.  That blend shows up on every page of Dinosaurs To Dragons, from its “let’s imagine” openings to its evidence-led investigations and playful questions about what it would take, biologically, to be a mythical creature.Cool stuff mentioned in the episode: Elizabeth Shreeve's websiteVideo trailer for Dinosaurs to Dragons Generation Skeptics Education Resources (and all the links therein)The “ridiculous” bibliography for Dinosaurs to Dragons – all the resources that formed part of Elizabeth’s research for this wonderful bookPaleo Nerds podcastStephen Jay Gould’s Life’s Grandeur Read all about the amazing EO WilsonFind us on Instagram @teatalesandtomes and don't forget to join us next time for more bookish wonder. Podcast music by Lundstroem (Episode 1 onwards) and Audionautix (TTAT Trailer). Podcast edited by Timothy Wiggill.