The idea of cheating death is audacious – and yet, undeniably tempting. If we could preserve our minds or bodies indefinitely, who wouldn’t at least consider it?

Dr Jen Martin
Dr Jen Martin
Associate Professor Jen Martin studied the sex lives of possums before founding the University of Melbourne's Science Communication Teaching Program which teaches scientists across all disciplines to be engaging and effective communicators. She also practises what she preaches: she’s been talking about science each week on 3RRR radio for nearly 20 years, hosts podcasts (including Let’s Talk SciComm), MCs events, writes for a variety of publications, was named the 2019 Unsung Hero of Australian Science Communication and is Ambassador for The Wilderness Society’s Nature Book Week. Jen’s first popular science book, ‘Why am I like this? The science behind your weirdest thoughts and habits’ was published by Hardie Grant in 2024.