The Rise and Fall of the Lab Rat

To be published by Godine and Goose Lane Editions in Fall 2028

My upcoming book, The Rise and Fall of the Lab Rat, chronicles the untold story of how one small, reviled creature built modern science — and why their reign may be coming to an end.

It’s part history, part investigative reporting, part travelogue. Inspired by the immersive storytelling of writers like Mary Roach, I will take readers into some of the most fascinating and controversial labs in the world spanning psychology, neuroscience, medicine/pharmacology, animal cognition and space science.

Rats are so entrenched in science it’s hard to imagine research without them, but their time in the lab is drawing to an end. Rats are increasingly seen as imperfect models for human biology, and the ethics of their use are under growing scrutiny.

Stay up to date with my progress over on YouTube @ScienceWrapNZ

Watch the associated teaser video here!