I’m thrilled to share that my passion for making science accessible to all has been acknowledged with the University of St Andrews Public Outreach Award 2021. I love nothing more than finding creative ways to engage with people and inspire them about the wonders of the natural world. Below, you can find out more about some of the exciting public engagement projects I’ve been involved in, as well as my previous science communication work.
Presenting: Live and Online!
I absolutely love sharing the wonders of science with all kinds of people! One of my favourite ways to do this is through creating fun and engaging online videos that explain my research in a way that’s easy to understand for everyone. I’ve also had the amazing opportunity to speak at some incredible online events, like ‘Excel in Science’, where I got to inspire and encourage underrepresented communities to pursue their dreams in science.
I’m also incredibly proud of my work with Nat Geo Media, where I collaborated on their latest episode of Nat Geo Explores: ‘Why a Whale’s World is a World of Sound. It was such an amazing experience, and I’m thrilled to have been a part of it!
And that’s not all – I’m currently working on a series of videos for the Wild Bannockburn initiative that focuses on species identification. Check out the first video below, and stay tuned for more exciting projects!
Additionally, I am excited to announce that I recently joined Animal Planet Kids magazine as an expert, where I have the privilege of answering burning questions from kids about wildlife and the natural world. It’s so rewarding to be able to share my knowledge and passion with the next generation of science enthusiasts and animal lovers.
Public Engagement
Wild Bannockburn and The Bannockburn BioBlitz
The Bannockburn BioBlitz is an incredible event that celebrates the biodiversity of our local community, and I’m thrilled to say that it’s now in its third year! This free-to-attend event brings people of all ages together to explore and document the fascinating wildlife in our area using the iNaturalist app.
But that’s not all – I’ve also established ‘Wild Bannockburn’, a fantastic hub for wildlife and conservation events in this area. With the support of iNaturalist and National Geographic, we’re able to bring exciting and informative events to the community.
If you’re interested in learning more about the BioBlitz or Wild Bannockburn, be sure to check out our website at www.wildbannockburn.com And don’t forget to watch the video below to get a taste of the amazing things we’ve accomplished so far!”
Songs and Silence
Songs and Silence is an interdisciplinary project which approaches the critical issue of anthropogenic threats to wildlife from an artistic and affective perspective, underpinned by scientific understanding.
As a marine biologist and conservationist currently specialising in humpback whale song evolution, I will work alongside Lisa Hall an environmental humanities researcher specialising in interspecies ethics and Neja Berger, a new media artist who interweaves contemporary sociological issues into her work
Sea Symphonies: A Dundee Science Centre Exhibit
I had an amazing time being a part of Sea Symphonies – a project that aimed to bring people closer to the fascinating world of humpback whales and their songs. My role as evaluation lead involved collaborating with a team of talented information and media designers to create interactive exhibitions and engaging evaluation materials for the Dundee Science Centre exhibit, which was partly funded by the Royal Society and University of St Andrews.
Together, we designed innovative and interactive ways for visitors to learn more about the latest research on humpback whale songs, and it was incredibly rewarding to see people of all ages come away from the exhibit with a newfound appreciation for these magnificent creatures.
Natalie Sinclair 