Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society

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of modern thinking since 1835

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  • What have Insects ever done for us?

What have Insects ever done for us?

  • 9 Mar 2026
  • 19:30 - 21:00
  • Hansom Hall in the Leicester Adult Education College, 50-54 Belvoir St, Leicester LE1 6QL
  • 100

Registration

  • Guest tickets allow you to attend in person or by Zoom. For this event, it is also possible to pay at the door without purchasing a ticket in advance.

    Lit&Phil members and member of the Natural History Section purchasing tickets for their guests, should not purchase tickets for themselves - members can attend this event without payment or advance registration.
  • Student tickets allow you to attend in person or by Zoom. For this event, it is also possible to pay at the door without purchasing a ticket in advance.

Register
Image courtesy of the speaker  (credit Lois Wendon)

Natural History Section Joint Lecture

Dr George McGavin PhD FLS Hon FRES Hon FBNA Hon FRSB Hon RSGS

Zoologist, Author, Broadcaster





Lecture outline

Insects are the most diverse and successful group of animals on Earth. They are an essential component of every terrestrial and aquatic food chain- without them the world would be a very different place. But insects have a dark side - they have changed the short course of human history by killing hundreds of millions of people and destroying their crops.

Biographical note

George McGavin studied Zoology at Edinburgh University, followed by a PhD in entomology at Imperial College and the Natural History Museum in London. After 30 years as an academic, mostly at Oxford University, he became an award-winning broadcaster. George is an Honorary Research Associate of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and an Honorary Principal Research Fellow at Imperial College. In 2019 George became the President of the Dorset Wildlife Trust. 

Recent books

The Hidden World (2024) Welbeck Hachette

The Good Bug (2024) Michael O'Mara Books

Attending the lecture

The lecture is open both to members of the Society and to guests.

The lecture will take place in Hansom Hall - how to find Hansom Hall.

Please note that tea and coffee drinks will be available between 7.00pm and 7.15pm before the formal start of the event at 7.30pm.

The lecture will also be streamed on Zoom. A recording of the lecture may be available to members only.

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