The Bio Wall in the Animation Planet drift of Newcastle-upon-Tyne's Great North Museum showcases the diversity of animation along Earth.

Just the place, then, to keep up an event titled The End of Nature, which will examine the destructive impact of humans connected other species and the capacity of the planet to prolong life A we know it.

The free public event, starting at 6pm tonight, is part of Northumbria University's contribution to the nationalistic Being Human festival, and will include case studies from the Tyne.

It will be sitting questions much as: "Are we driving the satellite to destruction?" and "have humans proved themselves to be the most important agents of environmental transfer – in most instances for the worst?"

Professor Matt Kelly of Northumbria University at the Great North Museum in Newcastle

Professor Lustrelessness Kelly of Northumbria University at the Great North Museum in Newcastle

This channel of reasoning has LED to the coining of a new condition – the Anthropocene Age – a clip in which human activity is the most crucial factor in in what is happening on Earth and how the future will unfold.

Scenarios range from synthetic global climate change and the reaction to the ozone layer-depleting CFCs in refrigeration and aerosols, to the quickening pace of species extinctions and the very recent alarm system over the global scale of plastic pollution.

One of the leaders of the Last of Nature result is Matthew Kelly, Northumbria University Professor of Modern History, who works on the development of environmental policy in the post-war period, the cultural chronicle of landscape painting, and the history of home parks and nature conservation.

Professor Matt Kelly of Northumbria University at the Great North Museum in Newcastle

Professor Lusterlessness Kelly of Northumbria University at the Uppercase North Museum in Newcastle

"On that point will an riveting tension between the showing at the museum and the subjects on the night," he said. "We are living through and through an environmental catastrophe. Whether it's extreme atmospheric condition events, timber fires or wildlife extinction, and the consequences this has for humans and non-mankind like, it is hard non to feel overwhelmed.

"This event offers some historical perspective on our present, asking what is the geezerhoo of the human and why have we found ourselves in such a predicament. If we can better understand how we've got Here, we might just exist healthy to start thinking all but what we can do about information technology."

One of the considerations is whether humans are part of nature, or have moved to a position where they think of themselves as being aside from the intelligent humans.

"There is a leaning to ensure nature as something humans can control and master. We feign it very deeply and often destructively," says Prof Kelly.

Up for debate is at what tipping point in history did humans became the primary force for change on Earth?

Professor Matt Kelly of Northumbria University at the Great North Museum in Newcastle

Professor Matt Kelly of Northumbria University at the Gravid Northeasterly Museum in Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Was it the prehistoric start of deforestation, the spread of agriculture, the Technological revolution and the carbon mature, or the nuclear age?

"Mankind have had an enormous effect, like no other species. We exploit nature, we are very good at making use of resources but identical bad at dominant that use," says Professor Kelly.

There is concern that the limitations of food and water system for a increasing population and the mental ability of natural systems to cope with human-generated waste will see Earth unable to support human spirit, at least along its here scale.

He says: "It is hard to go out how the global decline of variety can glucinium halted, and should humans comprise seen as an invasive species?

"There are numerous examples of homo impact on else species, from the hunting to skinny defunctness of heavyweight species to the killing of thousands of tigers in India to get to way for tea plantations and for "sport".

"Is human activity seriously affecting Earth's mental ability to sustain lifespan equally we know it and should that be at the heart of our politics and daily lives?" says Prof Kelly.