Henry Gee


Henry Ernest Gee is a British paleontologist, evolutionary biologist and senior editor of the scientific journal Nature.

Early life and education

Gee attended Sevenoaks School as a boarder. He then attended the Michael Hall School. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Leeds and completed his PhD at the University of Cambridge in 1990 as a postgraduate student of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. His doctoral research investigated the evolution of bison in Britain in the Ice Age.

Career

Gee joined Nature as a reporter in 1987 and is now Senior Editor, Biological Sciences. He has published a number of books, including In Search of Deep Time, A Field Guide to Dinosaurs and Jacob's Ladder.
The Accidental Species, a book on human evolution, was published by the University of Chicago Press in October 2013. According to Stephen Cave, Gee writes, "persuasively," that "our obsession with our uniqueness is folly.... We... believe we are so exceptional... that we are the pinnacle of evolution. But this is a misunderstanding: we are just one twig in the thicket, and we could easily have never sprouted at all."
In addition to his professional activities, Gee is a blues musician and a Tolkienist. He was the editor of Mallorn, the journal of the Tolkien Society, for nine issues. His science fiction trilogy The Sigil, previously available in draft form online, was published by ReAnimus Press in August and September 2012.
On 17 January 2014, Gee revealed the identity of pseudonymous science blogger, Dr. Isis on Twitter. Dr. Isis was an open critic of the scientific journal Nature, where Gee is a senior editor. Nature released a statement on the matter.

Books

Gee's publications include: