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Prof Adam Hart

Professor of Science Communication

We treat our students like adults, like part of the team.

Biography

Adam Hart is an ecologist, conservation scientist and entomologist, and is the University’s Professor of Science Communication.

As well as research and teaching, he is a regular broadcaster for BBC Radio 4 and the BBC World Service, presenting documentaries on topics from trophy hunting to tree diseases. He presented the weekly science program ‘Science in Action’ for the BBC World Service, where he also hosts ‘Tooth and Claw’, a documentary series about predators currently in its fourth season.

On television, Adam has co-presented several documentary series, most notably BBC4’s ‘Planet Ant’ and BBC2’s ‘Hive Alive’. He has published more than 140 scientific papers and in 2023 his third popular science book, ‘The Deadly Balance’, was published in which he explores our complex relationship with predators. Described by Steve “Deadly 60” Backshall as “an authoritative must read”, the Deadly Balance draws together the many strands of modern conservation, including several aspects of Adam’s own research.. He is also the co-author of the Oxford University Press textbook ‘Applied Ecology’ and the textbook ‘Introducing Forensic and Criminal Investigation’ from Sage. In 2023, his co-authored book ‘Trophy Hunting’ was published, taking the “first interdisciplinary and most comprehensive approach” to explore this complex and controversial topic.

Adam is a Fellow and Trustee of the Royal Entomological Society, and in 2022 was announced as the Society’s Vice President. Adam is also a Trustee of the Wild Planet Trust, a conservation charity that runs conservation programs in the UK and across the world.

Qualifications

  • MA (Cantab): Zoology, University of Cambridge, 1997
  • PhD: PhD in Zoology, University of Sheffield, 2001
  • PGCHE: Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education, University of Gloucestershire, 2006

Awards

Royal Society of Biology Science Communicator of the Year 2010

National Teaching Fellowship 2010

Student Union Outstanding Lecturer 2012

Accreditation

Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society

Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Membership of professional bodies

Royal Entomological Society (Fellow)

Royal Society of Biology (Fellow)

Higher Education Academy (Fellow)

Teaching & Research

Teaching

Teaching includes animal behaviour, behavioural ecology, evolution, statistics, mathematical modelling, citizen science, science communication, African savannah ecology and field skills.

Research

Flying Ant Day: Every summer across the UK we see millions of winged ants taking to the sky in a spectacular mating event. But what triggers these ants to fly, how coordinated are they across the country and is there really a flying ant ‘day’? With the help of the public, and working in partnership with the Royal Society of Biology, Adam and the research team were able to answer these questions using one of the UK’s largest citizen science projects.

Publications

More publications from Prof Adam Hart can be found in the Research Repository.

External responsibilities

I am regular broadcaster, presenting documentaries on BBC Radio 4, BBC World Service and BBC TV. I frequently appear in the national press and media talking about science in general and biology in particular.

Subject for media interview

Anything biological and anything scientific including citizen science, insects, conservation and science/society/policy.

Professional positions

Associate Editor of Ecological Entomology

Editor of The Biologist

Editor of Antenna

Editor of InStar Magazine for children

Member of Association of the Study for Animal Behaviour Education Committee

Royal Entomological Society Outreach committee

Patron of the charity Bees Abroad

External examining

University of Brighton Ecology Masters programme; University of Sheffield Science Communication Masters programme