A Better Planet
Masters in Science Communication
Featuring data communication, investigative journalism, natural history filmmaking, science into policy and public engagement.
Projects
Magazine Article
Brief:
To showcase a local hero of environmental science and raise awareness of the importance of pollinators within urban environments.
Outcome:
Co-produced a magazine article highlighting, OBE, Jane Memmott’s leading research at Bristol University on pollinators. Her work has mapped local and national management plans and acted as the blueprint for international food security projects, such as Nepal. Additionally, our article highlights the importance of urban green spaces in protecting pollinators when floral resources are typically scarce and agricultural practices are temporally focused.
We researched pollinators’ importance in protecting our biodiversity and food system; interviewed Jane Memmott; co-authored the article; and I designed it in InDesign.
Collaborated with Xander Meadows and Kieran Reynolds.
Podcast
Brief:
To address public distrust in science, by discussing an event of data misunderstanding, misuse or manipulation.
Outcome:
7-minute podcast highlighting meat lobbyists and how they misuse and manipulate climate science data.
Meat consumption is directly linked to climate change, but why are efforts to reduce consumption being challenged? Climate scientists argue our meat-heavy diets are a threat to climate goals, but meat lobbyists consistently retaliate against claims and campaigns. Whether that’s denying meat’s significance, presenting meat as sustainable or funding research with different conclusions, today we’ll be exploring the meat culture war in the US and the tactics behind it. To help, we’ll be talking with Jonathan Beacham, a research fellow in sustainable food systems at Bristol University, to better understand the backlash in the UK and how alarmist narratives can interfere with the most important messages.
In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Welcome to Tug of War
(00:32) What are sustainable diets?
(01:17) Awareness of meat as a contributor to climate change
(01:50) The US battle between climate scientists and meat lobbyists
(04:45) UK’s meat culture war
(05:15) Fearing ultra-processed foods
(05:43) Navigating mixed messages and disinformation
(05:59) Red meat is still bad for you
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Public concerns of climate change https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/datasets/dataonpublicattitudestotheenvironmentandtheimpactofclimatechangegreatbritain
Perspectives of significance of reducing meat consumption in mitigating climate change https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-025-01171-6
Animal agriculture obstructing campaigns promoting individual climate action https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2025.2460603
US universities funding climate science studies to obstruct understanding and policy https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-024-03690-w
Livestock’s Long Shadow https://www.fao.org/4/a0701e/a0701e00.htm
Meatless Monday movement https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1283239
Clearing the Air: Livestock’s Contribution to Climate Change https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2113(09)03001-6
EAT-Lancet 2019 report #yestomeat digital backlash campaign https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(19)32526-7
Jonathan Beacham and his research
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Arena crowd by RTB45. Available at: https://freesound.org/s/156196/
Boxing bell by Benboncan. Available at: https://freesound.org/s/66951/
Music by Yevgeniy Sorokin from Pixabay. Available at: https://pixabay.com/music/rock-active-sport-intro-rock-music-330322/
Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay. Available at: https://pixabay.com/music/rock-stomping-rock-four-shots-111444/
Music by Grand_Project from Pixabay. Available at: https://pixabay.com/music/rock-sport-rock-trailer-130487/
5-min TV Feature
Brief:
To explore a local issue and present an alternative future.
Outcome:
We chose to research animal reintroductions, specifically beavers, as a hot topic in SW England and their history of beaver bombing. We interviewed a local reserve manager at 42 Acres. We discussed his experience with beavers and what he believes we should do to ensure beavers' future in the UK’s landscape.
We shared roles in video and audio editing, foley additions, B-roll, and scriptwriting. I taught myself Adobe After Effects and created the moving timeline to demonstrate the history of beavers and how we ended up with their near-extinction.
Collaborated with Fleur Kilby, Beth Collins, Katie Merriman and Michaela Bray.
30-minute Live TV
Brief:
To create a segment for the Better Planet broadcast, aired live on YouTube. Containing 5 live segments, 4 VTs, stings and supporting script and staging setup.
Outcome:
Co-produced a ‘Blue Peter-style’ programme dedicated to No Mow May, celebrating the continued efforts of bees into Let it Bloom June. This featured the ‘To Bee or Not To Bee’ interactive game, a race to spot bees, an interview with a bee expert, a live craft session and hearing what the public thinks about bees.
I created the animated sting introducing the presenters and show, edited the bee race game VT, all accompanying graphics, wrote my live script and interviewed our bee expert.
Rotated roles of floor manager, vision mixer, presenter and camera manager during live broadcast.
Collaborated with Sophie Green, Beth Collins, Fleur Kilby and Jotisri Vasudevan.
POSTnote
Brief:
To brief policy makers, MPs and the general public on the importance of allotments on biodiversity, wellbeing and sustainability.
Outcome:
Co-produced a POSTnote following Houses of Parliament layout guidance. I designed the mock layout in Indesign and we co-wrote the body.
Collaborated with Daisy Braisington, Alex Bentley, Toby Collingridge and Harshitha Hebbar.
Newspaper Article
Brief:
To translate another group's press release into a newspaper article for curious individuals already interested in science.
Outcome:
Researched the audience of New Scientist and tailored the topic with neutrality and additional details. The article focused on a reasoned perspective without strong opinions but with a factual basis.
X Social Media Thread
Brief:
To showcase recent international research on the climate or biodiversity crisis with a solution focus.
Outcome:
I chose to cover an Indian study as a part of a PhD project on agriculture and its influence on avian biodiversity, which showed an unexpected positive relationship with intercropping rather than large-scale monocultures.
Created an accompanying social media thread for X to showcase an international research project. I celebrated the work of a PhD on agriculture and avian biodiversity. For a lay audience, this included distinguishing between richness and diversity (illustrated with a simple infographic in Procreate), animating a graph of risks to bird extinction (using Adobe After Effects) and mapping the location (using QGIS) so the information and statistics were engaging and easier to identify.
Audio Trail and Map
Brief:
To enhance nature connectedness in an urban space through audio and soundscapes.
Outcome:
Co-produced as a team of five, an audio experience at Brandon Hill, Bristol. We created seven stops to share folklore stories and nature’s ecological importance across taxonomic classes.
I wrote, narrated and edited the two stops: English Oak and bee.
Additionally, I drew the map with each stop and created the accompanying leaflet in InDesign.
Collaborated with Izzy Atherton, Michaela Bray, Charlotte Bunn and Maya Thompson.
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Woodland Trust https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/english-oak/ and https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/oak-tree-wildlife/
UNEP https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/why-bees-are-essential-people-and-planet
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Nature ambience and field bees by Mikhail. Available at: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/nature-nature-ambience-field-bees-156704/
Forest Wind with birds singing by Eryliaa. Available at: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/nature-forest-wind-with-birds-singing-364368/
Trumpets by Jordan Garner. Available at: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/musical-loud-fanfare-trumpet-effect-01-412045/