Science Communication

Engaging with people and talking about soil biodiversity is the most rewarding aspect of my career. Below are summaries of a few of my recent SciComm activities - if you have an opportunity you’d like to discuss please feel free to contact me. I also regularly post macrophotography and interesting soil biodiversity facts on my BlueSky, Mastodon, Threads and Instagram accounts, some highlights of which can be found at the bottom of this page.

Media Appearances

Soil Biodiversity talk for EntoL!VE

I was invited to speak about Soil Biodiversity Monitoring in the UK for The Biological Recording Company’s EntoL!VE talk series. The full talk is watchable above or available on YouTube here.

Podcast: Solid Science

Romy and Carlos wanted to chat about the potential of macrophotography in soil ecology research. You can listen to my episode (#12 ‘The Use of Visual Elements in Ecology’) on Spotify here.

Podcast: BBC Earth

I was asked to talk about the extraordinary diversity in soil on the BBC Earth podcast series. You can listen to my episode (Ep. 3 ‘Death’) by clicking here.

ABC Landline

I featured on ABC’s Landline show, where I describe some of the amazing soil animals that I found during my 2023 macrophotography tour of Australia. Episode viewable here.

BBC Breakfast Live

I joined the BBC breakfast live team and television presenter Michaela Strachan at Westonbirt Arboretum to celebrate the Forestry Commission’s centenary. In multiple live appearances throughout the morning, I promoted the importance of biological recording and the role of earthworms in supporting healthy forest ecosystems.

Podcast: Grubbing in the Filth

I was delighted to speak about soil invertebrate ecology and my macrophotography work on the invertebrate-focussed podcast ‘Grubbing in the Filth’. You can listen to my episode by clicking here, and view the photos we discuss here.

ABC Rural News

I featured on ABC’s Rural News, where I describe some of the amazing soil animals that I found during my 2023 macrophotography tour of Australia. News article viewable online here.

Christchurch City Council ‘Newsline’

I was profiled for CCC’s news channel, as part of the coverage for the 2024 iNaturalist event held in the city, for which I was presented with the ‘Inspiring Invertebrate’ award. News article viewable online here.

The New York Times

A number of my photographs were used to support an article in The New York Times, summarising a research paper by Phillip Martin et al. into the effects of climate change on soil fauna. NYT article viewable online here (paywall).

Supporting Scientific Literature

I spend a lot of time doing science communication on how interesting and important soil organisms are, often focusing on the more fascinating-looking creatures like springtails and mites... ...BUT, did you know that earthworms were my gateway soil a
I spend a lot of time doing science communication on how interesting and important soil organisms are, often focusing on the more fascinating-looking creatures like springtails and mites... ...BUT, did you know that earthworms were my gateway soil animal? In fact, I did my PhD on earthworm ecology, and how they can improve damaged soil for growing trees! If you need a little help going to sleep tonight, you can always read my thesis here: https://clok.uclan.ac.uk/16560/ #SoilBiodiversity #SoilEcology #SoilFauna #Earthworm #SoilScience #Macrophotography
AMAZING SOIL ANIMAL ART ALERT!! Today I received these two beautiful handmade prints by the exceptionally talented Svenja Meyer @sm_artwork_321, showing off the wonderful diversity of springtails and mites. My office is about to get even more soil f
AMAZING SOIL ANIMAL ART ALERT!! Today I received these two beautiful handmade prints by the exceptionally talented Svenja Meyer @sm_artwork_321, showing off the wonderful diversity of springtails and mites. My office is about to get even more soil fauna-themed, if that's even possible! Go check out Svenja's fabulous work at smartwork.bigcartel.com - I'm a big fan of her mugs too! #SoilBiodiversity #SoilEcology #Entomology #Collembola #Acari #Acarology #NatureArt #InsectArt
I've been posting a lot of springtail-related content lately, so this is a reminder that mites are amazing too! Now I know it's only November, so a little early, but somehow this mite's wardrobe is giving me festive vibes... #Macrophotography #Soi
I've been posting a lot of springtail-related content lately, so this is a reminder that mites are amazing too! Now I know it's only November, so a little early, but somehow this mite's wardrobe is giving me festive vibes... #Macrophotography #SoilBiodiversity #SoilEcology #Entomology #Acarology #Acari #NaturePhotography @cupoty
It's rough out there at the moment, and there's little I can do except to offer a collection of baby springtails to bring a moment of comfort. No matter what's going on in the world, remember there's always baby springtails near you, oblivious to i
It's rough out there at the moment, and there's little I can do except to offer a collection of baby springtails to bring a moment of comfort. No matter what's going on in the world, remember there's always baby springtails near you, oblivious to it all and just living that little sproinglet dream. #MacroPhotography #SoiBiodiversity #SoilEcology #Entomology #Collembola
I’ve been gaining some new followers recently, so it’s time for a reintroduction! I’m a scientist and macrophotographer, fascinated by all the amazing creatures that live in the soil! I use my photography and media appearances to d
I’ve been gaining some new followers recently, so it’s time for a reintroduction! I’m a scientist and macrophotographer, fascinated by all the amazing creatures that live in the soil! I use my photography and media appearances to do science communication on soil biodiversity, to spread awareness and love for the world beneath our feet. Oh, and I’ve got a major book deal to write a popular science book on this subject, which I’m extremely excited about! Follow my page for interesting soil animal facts, macrophotography and updates! #Introduction #Macrophotography #SoilBiodiversity #Entomology #Nature #NaturePhotography #SoilScience #ScienceCommunication @hilaryredmon
This Calvatomina superba is one of New Zealand's many crazily-coloured globular springtails, most of which are still undescribed to science. Springtails like this are capable of instantaneously leaping to heights of up to 100 times their body lengt
This Calvatomina superba is one of New Zealand's many crazily-coloured globular springtails, most of which are still undescribed to science. Springtails like this are capable of instantaneously leaping to heights of up to 100 times their body length - equivalent to a human jumping over the Eiffel tower! #Macrophotgraphy #SoilBiodiversity #SoilEcology #Entomology #Collembola
Today we say bon voyage to @soilanimals as he departs New Zealand to return to the UK. It's been great seeing all the wonderful soil animals Andy's been photographing while here, and of course going on a macrophotography road trip together across t
Today we say bon voyage to @soilanimals as he departs New Zealand to return to the UK. It's been great seeing all the wonderful soil animals Andy's been photographing while here, and of course going on a macrophotography road trip together across the South Island! Hurry back soon Andy! #Macrophotography #SoilBiodiversity #SoilEcology #Entomology #Nature #NaturePhotography #Collembola
DID YOU KNOW that New Zealand has an annual 'Bug of the Year' contest? Voting opens in Jan 2025, and of course I've championed... GIANT SPRINGTAILS! Anyone around the world can vote, so get ready to cast your ballot for these amazing minibeasts, an
DID YOU KNOW that New Zealand has an annual 'Bug of the Year' contest? Voting opens in Jan 2025, and of course I've championed... GIANT SPRINGTAILS! Anyone around the world can vote, so get ready to cast your ballot for these amazing minibeasts, and expect lots of giant springtail promotional content from me in the runup! #Macrophotography #SoilBiodiversity #SoilEcology #Entomology #SoilFauna #Collembola #Springtails #bugoftheyear2025 #NZEntoSoc @amentsoc @royentsoc
I was blown away by this very unusual white-pigmented morph of a familiar giant springtail species (H. spinosa), which @soilanimals and I found recently under a log in a tree fern forest in Kaikōura, Aotearoa. These springtails normally have either
I was blown away by this very unusual white-pigmented morph of a familiar giant springtail species (H. spinosa), which @soilanimals and I found recently under a log in a tree fern forest in Kaikōura, Aotearoa. These springtails normally have either yellow or orange coloured spines, so this was a very special little sproinglet indeed! #Macrophotography #SoilBiodiversity #SoilEcology #SoilBiology #Entomology #Collembola
Globular springtails such as this little cutie have a distinctive spherical body (their abdominal and thoracic segments are fused) and are often colourful and beautifully patterned. They're important grazers and detritivores, feeding on microbes an
Globular springtails such as this little cutie have a distinctive spherical body (their abdominal and thoracic segments are fused) and are often colourful and beautifully patterned. They're important grazers and detritivores, feeding on microbes and decaying plant matter - helping to regulate litter decomposition and soil nutrient cycling. This is a mystery species that myself and @soilanimals found recently, and I've yet to figure out what it is - probably something new, as is typical for NZ! #Macrophotography #SoilBiodiversity #SoilEcology #Entomology
I spend a lot of time doing science communication on how interesting and important soil organisms are, often focusing on the more fascinating-looking creatures like springtails and mites... ...BUT, did you know that earthworms were my gateway soil a AMAZING SOIL ANIMAL ART ALERT!! Today I received these two beautiful handmade prints by the exceptionally talented Svenja Meyer @sm_artwork_321, showing off the wonderful diversity of springtails and mites. My office is about to get even more soil f I've been posting a lot of springtail-related content lately, so this is a reminder that mites are amazing too! Now I know it's only November, so a little early, but somehow this mite's wardrobe is giving me festive vibes... #Macrophotography #Soi It's rough out there at the moment, and there's little I can do except to offer a collection of baby springtails to bring a moment of comfort. No matter what's going on in the world, remember there's always baby springtails near you, oblivious to i I’ve been gaining some new followers recently, so it’s time for a reintroduction! I’m a scientist and macrophotographer, fascinated by all the amazing creatures that live in the soil! I use my photography and media appearances to d This Calvatomina superba is one of New Zealand's many crazily-coloured globular springtails, most of which are still undescribed to science. Springtails like this are capable of instantaneously leaping to heights of up to 100 times their body lengt Today we say bon voyage to @soilanimals as he departs New Zealand to return to the UK. It's been great seeing all the wonderful soil animals Andy's been photographing while here, and of course going on a macrophotography road trip together across t DID YOU KNOW that New Zealand has an annual 'Bug of the Year' contest? Voting opens in Jan 2025, and of course I've championed... GIANT SPRINGTAILS! Anyone around the world can vote, so get ready to cast your ballot for these amazing minibeasts, an I was blown away by this very unusual white-pigmented morph of a familiar giant springtail species (H. spinosa), which @soilanimals and I found recently under a log in a tree fern forest in Kaikōura, Aotearoa. These springtails normally have either Globular springtails such as this little cutie have a distinctive spherical body (their abdominal and thoracic segments are fused) and are often colourful and beautifully patterned. They're important grazers and detritivores, feeding on microbes an