Merlin Sheldrake is a biologist, writer, and speaker with a notable background in plant sciences, microbiology, ecology, as well as the history and philosophy of science. He has earned a Ph.D. in tropical ecology from Cambridge University for his pioneering research on underground fungal networks in the tropical forests of Panama, where he was a predoctoral research fellow at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.

Sheldrake serves as a research associate at the Vrije University Amsterdam, collaborates with the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN), and is a valuable member of the advisory board of the Fungi Foundation. His research interests are diverse, spanning from fungal biology to Amazonian ethnobotany, and even the interplay between sound and form in resonant systems.

Apart from his academic pursuits, Merlin Sheldrake has a passion for brewing and fermentation, showcasing a deep interest in the intricate relationships between humans and other organisms. Moreover, he is an accomplished musician, playing the piano and accordion with zeal.

Merlin is the author of the internationally acclaimed book, Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds, and Shape Our Futures, which has become a celebrated work, securing the Wainwright Prize 2021 and being nominated for other prestigious awards including the British Book Awards Book of the Year 2021 for Narrative Non-Fiction.