Wildscreen brings together scientists and wildlife filmmakers for science communications summit

Wildscreen will host a brand new one-day hybrid event in Bristol on 12 March that will bring together scientists and filmmakers from the wildlife film and TV industry to discuss the impact of communicating scientific research and knowledge effectively on screen.  

Science in Storytelling, which takes place at the Bristol Beacon, will comprise a series of talks, Q&As, and panel discussions centred on themes such as improving working relationships between scientists and creatives, and issues around how scientific broadcasting is commissioned and produced, as well as taking behind the scenes of the creation of new and innovative natural history series – and the scientists that supported them. 

The natural history programming sector faces challenges in the coming years, with a slowdown in commissioning making competition harder. Budget squeezes is forcing production companies to do more with less, whilst still delivering innovative new stories. When it comes to finding and telling those stories, the relationship between those with the knowledge (the scientists) and those who want to share it (filmmakers) has never been more important. 

The event will be hosted by field biologist, wildlife filmmaker and tv presenter Dan O’Neill and speakers will include: 

• British vertebrate palaeontologist and author Dr Darren Naish and the team behind the Apple TV+ series Prehistoric Planet 
• Sharmila Choudry, Series Producer at Humble Bee Films, who has been involved in the production of many natural history films including Secret World of Sound with David Attenborough 
• University of Bristol’s Professor Andy Radford, who most recently acted as a series consultant on Secret World of Sound. 
• Dr. Rosa Vásquez Espinoza, a Peruvian chemical biologist of Andean-Amazonian heritage who studies issues around the safeguarding of Amazonian ecosystems 
• Dr. Reyhaneh (Rey) Maktoufi is a Washington based Iranian researcher and science communicator involved with the production of the PBS/NOVA TV series, Sciencing Out 

Lucie Muir, CEO of Wildscreen, said: “While wildlife film and TV is often seen as being about entertainment, it also plays an important role in educating people about environmental issues. The science behind this is key, so with this event we want to put science in the spotlight and highlight the importance of nurturing relationships between those with knowledge, and those who want to share it. We want to platform successful case studies of scientists and filmmakers coming together to communicate science effectively and creatively, in order to reach audiences of millions.” 

The event takes place on Tuesday 12th March 2024 from 8.45am – 5pm at The Lantern Hall, Bristol Beacon.