Dr Elsa Panciroli is a scientist and writer from Scotland. Her research focuses on the anatomy and evolution of extinct animals, particularly of mammals: the furred, milk-producing group to which we belong. Born and brought up in the Highlands, Elsa completed her undergraduate degree in Environmental Science at the University of the Highlands and Islands, her masters degree at the University of Bristol, and her doctorate in palaeontology at the University of Edinburgh. She is currently a researcher at the University of Oxford Museum of Natural History, and is an associate researcher at National Museums Scotland. Elsa is a prolific science communicator, contributing regularly to The Guardian, Palaeontology Online and Biological Sciences Review. She delivers public talks on palaeontology and the origin of mammals to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. She is a graduate of the BBC’s Expert Women training programme, and can frequently be heard on radio and podcast programmes such as Crowdscience, The John Beatty Show, and Our Lives. Alongside her scientific research, Elsa is a natural story-teller, and has been penning short stories and poetry since childhood. She feels an intimate tie to the Scottish landscape, contributing to and editing Conversations in Stone, a prose and poetry collection inspired by geology. She is also a Trustee for the Scottish Geology Trust. Elsa’s new book, Beasts Before Us, charts the evolution of mammals as you’ve never heard it before. If you think you already know where our furry ancestors came from, you may be surprised! You can find out more about Elsa and her work on her website, www.elsapanciroli.wordpress.com or follow her on twitter @gsciencelady, or Instagram @elsa_panciroli #BeastsBeforeUs
