Martian to be autopsied as part of Being Human
Published On Thu 18 Aug 2016 by Grant Hill
An alien autopsy is among the events that will be taking place when the University of Dundee marks the 150th anniversary of H.G. Wells’ birth later this year.
‘H.G. Wells at 150: Hope and Fear’ will celebrate his life and work as part of Being Human 2016, a national festival of the humanities. Being Human will see events take place at more than 70 universities and other organisations across the UK from 17th to 25th November, with Dundee serving as Scotland’s festival hub.
Wells, who found fame as the author of The Time Machine, The War of the Worlds and other stories, has come to be regarded as the father of science fiction. His work combined classic storytelling with the possibilities that the scientific breakthroughs of the late 19th century opened up in his imagination.
Dundee’s English programme at Dundee has a particular interest in adaptation studies and the history of the scientific imagination, and last year became the first university in the UK to offer a taught postgraduate degree in Science Fiction while also continuing to lead the way in comics studies.
English staff will collaborate with colleagues across the University on the festival programme. Professor Sue Black, Director of Dundee’s Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification, will conduct an autopsy on a model of an alien based on Wells's vision of how intelligent life might evolve on the planet Mars. A collection of short stories by award-winning artists, writers and members of the public will also be launched.
Dr Daniel Cook, Lecturer in English at the University, said, “We have selected Wells as our case study as he remains an instructive example of a writer whose imagination bridges the worlds of art and science – which is in keeping with the 1881 mission statement for the University laid down by its founders.
“Today, the University has set an ambitious goal to transform lives through the creation, sharing and application of knowledge. In this regard, Wells is a fitting subject. His influence can be felt in popular culture – in music, video games, film and others – right through to today. He also helped spark an interest in science and was the founder of what is now Diabetes UK, the organisation which funds some of the research that takes place here in Dundee.”
Other scheduled events include film screenings, exhibitions, walking tours, animation and comics workshops, talks and discussions.
Led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London, and funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council and the British Academy, Being Human is a national forum for public engagement with humanities research.
The festival highlights the ways in which the humanities can inspire and enrich lives, helping us to understand ourselves, our relationships with others, and the challenges we face in a changing world.
More information about the events can be found on the Being Human Festival’s official website - www.beinghumanfestival.org.
To find out more about ‘H.G. Wells at 150: Hope and Fear’, please visit https://www.facebook.com/wells150.
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