How we are all connected and why that matters.

We often think of ourselves as individuals, acting alone, with an inner self that stays the same across our lives. But this is an illusion - in fact, we are more connected with others, the planet and the universe than we realise.

In his lecture, ecologist Tom Oliver explains some surprising science that will make you think differently about yourself and your place in the world. While our sense of individual self has helped our species to succeed, he argues that seeing beyond this mindset to understand the complex connections between us may well be the key to a better future.

Tom Oliver is a Professor in Applied Ecology at the University of Reading and author of The Self Delusion, a popular science book about our human interconnectedness. He is a senior academic fellow with the UK government leading the design of their Systems Research Programme to inform environmental policy, and also sits on the European Environment Agency Scientific Committee. Tom is a frequent contributor to broadcast media, a frequent speaker on environmental science and has published more than 65 scientific papers in world-leading journals.