Distinguished Speakers Series: Ella Al-Shamahi

Center for the Arts Mainstage Theatre Palaeoanthropologist, evolutionary biologist and National Geographic Explorer Ella Al-Shamahi is a Neanderthal specialist with a passion for fossil hunting in paleolithic caves. A presenter on the BBC’s “Our Changing Planet” series, Al-Shamahi was also the presenter and associate producer for BBC’s two science series “Neanderthals: Meet Your Ancestors” and “Horizon: Body Clock.” She also hosted a National Geographic show “Viking Warrior Women” where—during filming—she discovered what might be the first evidence of a battle injury on a female Viking warrior. Her debut book, “The Handshake” (2021), was recognized as a Times (UK) and Sunday Times (UK) Book of the Year. She also performs “nerdy” stand-up internationally and has taken four science comedy shows to the Edinburgh Fringe. While she’s honed her dynamic storytelling skills as a globetrotting stand-up comedian and adventure TV host, it is her work leading expeditions into unstable and hostile territories that has given her unusual insight into our shared human history. Dig in with Al-Shamahi—for what is sure to be an entertaining exploration—and uncover why we need to understand our recent ancestors’ failures in order to chart a better future.