Outreach and dissemination are a crucial aspect of my work. Bringing science, nature, and wildlife closer to people, and inspiring others with a passion for protecting and conserving biodiversity are essential for the long-term success of biodiversity conservation initiatives.

I have worked for Crossing the Line Films as a researcher on several wildlife documentaries broadcast by the BBC, PBS, CBC, RTÉ, and France Télévisions which have been recognised with multiple awards and nominations including the News & Documentary Emmys, Grierson Awards, Jackson Wild, and WildScreen Panda Awards, among many others. My work on these productions involved developing original content and stories to film, conducting fieldwork to prepare and facilitate international shoots, assisting with filming and production, fact-checking, scripting, and providing scientific advisory and support throughout the entire project.

Wild Cuba

Wild Cuba is a two-part documentary on the unique wildlife of Cuba. Covering the length and breadth of the island, this film showcases endemic species found nowhere else on earth.

I spent six months in Cuba over two years, developing original content, researching and preparing shoots, procuring licensing, and assisting with filming and production work. I was also involved with scripting and scientific advisory throughout the project.

First broadcast by the BBC in 2020.

Wild Ireland

Wild Ireland: the edge of the world is a two-part documentary following Colin Stafford-Johnson as he discovers the west coast of Ireland and the wildlife that lives there.

I provided scientific advisory, researched and prepared shoots, and assisted with filming and production work for this film.

First broadcast by the BBC in 2017.

Wild Cities

Wild Cities is a four-part series looking at the wildlife that shares our cities but we rarely see, covering four Irish cities - Cork, Dublin, Galway and Belfast.

Over two years I developed original content, researched and prepared shoots, and assisted with filming and production work for the Cork episode.

First broadcast by RTÉ in 2016.

I dedicate my spare time to my own filming projects, often linked to my research and conservation work or simply to the wildlife close to where I live.

While assisting with fieldwork to establish a long-term project in the Bahamas studying Anolis evolution, I produced a video abstract for a paper published in Science on the work we carried out there.

In 2016 I produced a short video for BWI BirdLife Ireland as part of a campaign to raise awareness on the plight of one of Ireland's most emblematic and endangered birds, the hen harrier.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds on their autumn migration in Canada, refueling at a patch of jewelweed.

Recently fledged white-throated dippers from one of our study sites in Cork.

White-throated dippers foraging, diving, and feeding chicks at one of our research sites.

I use graphic design for science dissemination and outreach purposes.

Research dissemination

My research work has been covered by national and international media outlets, and I also write popular science articles for dissemination purposes. My work has been featured on BBC News, the Times, RTÉ News, and The Conversation, among others. Links to media coverage and popular science articles are available on the publications page.

Other outreach work

Aside from dissemination of specific research I have published, I am also involved in broader science communication activities. These range from media interviews to contributions to popular science articles, or providing images for conservation campaigns. Some examples of this work are listed below.

A one hour show on RTÉ Radio 1 on dipper ecology and our research on this species. Find out more here or listen here.
Wolf conservation and how traditional practices allow them to coexist alongside farming communities on Mooney Goes Wild (RTÉ Radio 1). Listen here.
The Dipper project team contributed to the guide for monitoring dipper populations featured in the BTO's Life Cycle. Full of advice on how to find dippers, monitor nest sites in the spring time and roosting adults in the winter, this article is a great compilation of the experiences of different dipper researchers and ringers. Full issue available here.
What can dippers tells us about climate change - on the documentary Creedon's Weather (RTÉ Television). More info here.
Dipper fieldwork on Mooney Goes Wild (RTÉ Radio 1). Listen here.
BirdLife International launched the World's Rarest Birds, a guide aimed at raising awareness and funds for its Preventing Extinctions Programme. It depicts the most threatened bird species on the planet, detailing information on conservation status, threats and measures being taken to save them. I'm glad to have been able to contribute a few photographs of species I've worked with to this fantastic project. On google books here.
A unique mix of natural habitats set Ireland apart from the rest of Europe, with each of these habitats supporting different ecosystems. Bird habitats in Ireland provides a much needed and comprehensive review of bird communities and habitats in Ireland, from coastal to upland, from lapwing to merlin. Delighted to have a few of my photographs featured in this book. On google books here.
I have also contributed photographs and footage to BBC Wildlife Fund Campaigns, Wild Earth Guardians Campaigns, BirdWatch Ireland publications, RTÉ Goes Wild documentaries, and, the now sadly defunct, Arkive initiative.