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 programme ‘Science in Action’ for the BBC World Service, where he also hosts ‘Tooth and Claw’, a documentary series about predators currently in its fifth 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 150 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. The book won the prestigious Marsh Prize from the British Ecological Society, awarded to the book that has had the greatest influence on the science of ecology in any two-year period.
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 programmes in the UK and across the world, and is a founding trustee of Endangered Rhino Conservation, a charity that raises money to help protect rhino from poaching in South Africa.
Royal Society of Biology Science Communicator of the Year 2010
National Teaching Fellowship 2010
Student Union Outstanding Lecturer 2012
Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society
Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Royal Entomological Society (Fellow)
Royal Society of Biology (Fellow)
Higher Education Academy (Fellow)
Teaching includes animal behaviour, behavioural ecology, evolution, statistics, mathematical modelling, citizen science, science communication, African savannah ecology and field skills.
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.
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.
Anything biological and anything scientific including citizen science, insects, conservation and science/society/policy.
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
University of Brighton Ecology Masters programme; University of Sheffield Science Communication Masters programme