Hello and welcome to the podcast of the Life Scientific first broadcast on BBC Radio 4.

I'm Jim Allely and my mission is to interview the most fascinating and important scientists alive today and to find out what makes them tick.

The Anthropocene represents a new phase in the history of both humankind and the earth,

when natural forces and human forces became intertwined

so that the fate of one determines the fate of the other.

Geologically this is a remarkable episode in the history of this planet. This claim was made by my

guest today Professor Jan Zalachevich, who's one of the leading lights in the

community of scientists who are working to get the Anthropocene, the Age of Man, recognised.

But when did this geological epoch begin?

There's been quite a debate about the date.

Some say it was a thousand years ago or the Industrial Revolution, others that it was the Second World War,

and yet others that it's as recent as the 1960s.

It all turns on finding the Golden Spike, which does sound like the title of an Indiana Jones movie.

Jan Zelachevich began his career as a traditional geologist studying the ancient rocks

on either side of the English Welsh border.

After years out in the field mapping the landscape

for the British Geological Survey, he moved into academia at Leicester University.

He is currently chair of the International Anthropocene Working Group.

Yarn, welcome to the Life Scientific.

Hello, Jim.

I know it's been, and I guess still is somewhat controversial.

So how close are you to now getting the Anthropocene formally recognised as a new geological epoch?

...