Matthew Cobb is a British researcher, author and zoologist. He is known for his popular science books The Egg & Sperm Race, Life's Greatest Secret, and The Idea of the Brain: A History. Cobb has also translated a number of books on popular science and science history.
Matthew Cobb earned both his BA in Psychology and his PhD at the University of Sheffield, focusing on fruit fly mating behaviour. The study of olfaction in insects and humans has formed the basis of his research career.
Following his doctorate, Cobb's first postdoctoral position was at the Institute of Psychiatry in London. However, his desire to avoid research on human subjects steered him back toward animal behaviour.
During the politically tumultuous period of the Thatcher government in the UK, Cobb found opportunities abroad and moved to France on a Royal Society Science Exchange Programme.
In France, Cobb worked as a lecturer in Psychophysiology at the Université Paris-XIII and for the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). His research during this period expanded to include the sense of smell in Drosophila maggots and chemical communication in ants.
After returning to the UK in 2002, Cobb joined the University of Manchester as a lecturer.
His passion for the history of science also flourished in Paris, where he began translating works of French historians of science. This interest led to his own historical writings and contributions to the popular understanding of science. His teaching at the University of Manchester covers a range of topics, including genes, evolution, development, animal diversity, and chemical communication in animals.
Matthew Cobb's notable books reflect his diverse interests. The Egg & Sperm Race (2006) provides a historical account of the 17th-century scientists who made groundbreaking discoveries about reproduction.
Life's Greatest Secret (2015) recounts the story of the race to crack the genetic code, a narrative that intertwines scientific discovery with the personal lives of the researchers involved.
The Idea of the Brain (2020) offers a comprehensive history of how humanity has understood the brain throughout the ages.
Cobb's achievements in science communication have been recognized with several awards. In 2008, he received an award from the Zoological Society of London for his ability to engage the public with zoological science. His translation work was honoured in 2009 with a Translation Prize for Life Explained, co-translated with Malcom DeBevoise.
That same year, his book The Resistance, which explores the French fight against the Nazis during World War II, won the Anglo-French Society Award.
In addition to his books on science and history, Cobb has been an active voice in the media. He has made numerous radio appearances on BBC programs such as The Infinite Monkey Cage, The Life Scientific, and The Curious Cases of Rutherford & Fry. Additionally, he has been featured in publications such as New Scientist and The Guardian.
Cobb's research interests are centred on the genetic and neurological underpinnings of behaviour, particularly about olfaction. He studies the olfactory system of Drosophila larvae, which, despite having only 21 olfactory receptor neurons, can detect a wide range of odours. His work aims to understand the processing of smells and how this sense has evolved across different species.
In 2020, The Genetics Society announced that Cobb would be the recipient of the 2021 JBS Haldane Lecture, a testament to his significant contributions to the field of genetics. His lecture, expected to be presented at the Royal Institution, will further cement his status as a leading figure in the scientific community.
Matthew Cobb lives in Machester.
Photo credit: X @matthewcobb
