Dr Jess Venner, Roman & Pompeian Historian

“I am a world leading expert in ancient Pompeian history, with specialist knowledge in Roman identity, architecture, and diets. In 2021, I was chosen as a TV PhD Delegate for the Edinburgh TV Festival, and in 2018 was awarded a three-year scholarship from the AHRC-M3C for research into sustainable gardening in the urban centre of Pompeii at the University of Birmingham. I have over 8 years of experience in independent historical research, writing for publication, and public speaking. I am currently conducting research into the urban garden cash-crop economy of the early Roman Empire, and spend my spare time developing content for my TikTok channel, Life in the Past Lane, which has over 46k followers.”