2024 has been a rollercoaster of a year, for various reasons. But as we draw the curtain on the year, and look towards 2025, I’ve been reflecting on some of my biggest achievements and milestones of the year – from kickstarting my radio and podcasting obsession and completing my Masters to spending time at BBC Science Focus and the Wildscreen Festival. So, here’s a few thoughts on some of my favourite moments this year!

Love and Science

Nothing could have prepared me for the chaotic wonder that is Love and Science. This was my first foray into live radio and, though I tried it out in 2023, I never would have thought one day I would be the host and producer of the show! A special thank you goes out to Andrew Glester and Achintya Rao for building my confidence in radio hosting, and I cannot wait for another year of science chats, interviews, stories and radio fun!

The PaddlePod

Running off the back of live radio, it would be remiss of me to not mention The PaddlePod. This was an idea Casey Spry and I had way back in October 2023, though 2024 was the year we brought it to life. This podcast has been an incredible experience, and an amazing learning curve for we not only tried out podcasting for the first time, but we did it on paddleboards! Mad! We had an amazing time producing Season 1 (which, if you haven’t listened to yet, is on Spotify), chatting with our amazing guests including Dr Lucy Hawkes, Emma Nicol and other MSc Science Communication students! Stay tuned for updates on Season 2 soon.

Slowing The Flow

Next up is Slowing The Flow – my first feature wildlife documentary. The MSc in Science Communicaiton at UWE has provided no end of opportunities to try out new communication avenues or build my skills in new areas, and our filmmaking assessment was just one of many. For our assessment, Corragh-May White, Priya Bala, Casey Spry and I chose to focus on beavers and how they impact water pollution, travelling to the University of Exeter and Woodland Valley Farm, Cornwall for interviews and beaver footage. Unfortunately, despite a 4:30am wake up and 5 hours of sitting by a beaver lodge with a camera, we had no luck with beaver footage, though The Beaver Trust did come to our rescue for our final film. You can watch it on YouTube here!

SEEd – Sustainability and Environmental Education

2024 marked the year I moved away from working in hospitality to working for charities. In September, I begun working with SEEd – an incredible organisation empowering young people to become more sustainable and develop sustainable competencies, skills and communities. I’m excited to see what the new year holds for us and out amazing team of staff and trustees! Find out more about SEEd on our website.

BBC Science Focus

Another aspect of my MSc was a week-long placement at BBC Science Focus magazine in Bristol Whilst here, I met some amazing, incredibly talented science writers and learnt so much about the industry, how to improve my articles and how a science magazine works from start to finish. Thanks to Dan Bennett, Thomas Ling, Noa Leach and Alex Hughes for being so welcoming and helpful. My time here was invaluable in helping me begin the process of launching my freelance science writing career.

Wildscreen Festival

Another week spent in awe of incredible people! I got the amazing opportunity (thanks Wildscreen!) to do some press for the Wildscreen Festival and Love and Science. At this celebration of all things wildlife filmmaking, I talked to some amazing people including Lizzie Daly, Kristina Obame and the awesome Wildscreen staff. This was such a fun week and I can’t wait for the next one! Listen to our Love and Science Wildscreen Festival special episode on my Radio page.

Completing my Masters

Last but not least, the MSc in Science Communication run by UWE’s Science Communication Unit was an absolute delight to undertake. It’s hard to believe that just over a year ago, I was launched into the world of science communication alongside 20-odd other students I’d never met before, and have now left with lifelong friends, colleagues, mentors and knowledge. The course gave me so many great opportunities to build new skills and I’m keen to keep developing my sci-comm career. Perhaps my most important accomplishment here was my Master’s Thesis, which I’ve had a very exciting update on – but more on that soon.

---

That wraps up my reflection on 2024. It’s been an incredible year full of experiences and opportunities and I can’t wait to see what 2025 brings!