Lucy Cooke is a zoologist, award-winning broadcaster, and best-selling author. With a Masters in zoology from New College, Oxford, where she studied under Richard Dawkins, she has dedicated her career to challenging outdated narratives in evolutionary biology. Through her books, television work, and public speaking, she reveals the unexpected truths about the natural world, making complex science both accessible and engaging.
After leaving academia, Lucy built a successful career in natural history storytelling. As a writer, she has authored four critically acclaimed books, including 'Bitch: A revolutionary guide to sex, evolution and the female animal', which challenges long-held assumptions about sex and gender in the animal kingdom. Her work has been translated into over 20 languages and featured on university syllabuses worldwide. As a broadcaster, she has presented and produced numerous documentaries for the BBC, National Geographic, and Animal Planet, often focusing on lesser-known species and misunderstood behaviours. She is also a columnist for BBC Wildlife Magazine.
Lucy’s speaking engagements span major literary festivals, corporate events, and academic institutions. Her ability to combine rigorous research with humour and storytelling has made her a sought-after speaker. Whether discussing the evolution of leadership, the power of teamwork in nature, or the biological roots of gender roles, she offers fresh perspectives grounded in science. Her insights challenge audiences to rethink human behaviours through the lens of the animal kingdom.
Leadership in nature takes many forms, often defying human assumptions. Lucy Cooke explores how dominance, cooperation, and adaptability play out in the animal world, from the matriarchal societies of elephants to the rule-breaking behaviours of alpha females. Drawing on evolutionary biology and animal behaviour, she challenges traditional leadership models and offers surprising insights into what truly makes an effective leader.
Nature offers powerful lessons in collaboration, from the coordinated hunts of wild dogs to the social structures of meerkats. Lucy Cooke examines the evolutionary advantages of teamwork, exploring how animals work together to survive and thrive. With a mix of science, storytelling, and humour, she uncovers the key ingredients of successful group dynamics and how they apply to human teams in business and beyond.
Biology has long been used to justify gender stereotypes, but modern science tells a different story. Lucy Cooke dismantles outdated myths about sex and gender in nature, revealing a world where females are dominant, males nurture, and diversity is the norm. By understanding the true complexities of evolutionary biology, she provides a fresh perspective on gender roles and the importance of challenging ingrained biases.
