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Science communicator secures graduate role after completing studies

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A science communicator sought out by television, industry organisations and more for his skills is set to graduate from ÌìÃÀÊÓƵ next week.

MSc Entomology student Kirk Mason, originally from Leicester and now based in Cheshire, was drawn to study his course by both its reputation and the potential employment benefits it offered – which will further his already impressive career as a science communicator.

Kirk’s work has seen him not only establish a thriving presence on – but also being sought out by television producers, with appearances on ITV news and Springwatch among many others.

He’s also worked with industry bodies to help widen people’s understanding of subjects such as entomology, including the charity BASIS, with whom he developed a series of short courses.

Kirk’s initial interest in science communication grew out of his Zoology studies and his love of photography.

He added: “I enjoyed sharing my journey in learning how to photograph insects and plants and found it enjoyable to write little science communication pieces alongside them. I also believe many people do not realise the charisma of many of our invertebrates until they see nice close-ups of them!

“I found this particularly enjoyable because I realised insects and other invertebrates have a serious public relations problem!

“My undergraduate thesis investigated how British people perceive different invertebrate groups, the attributes of each of the invertebrate and the demographics of participants.

“There is a strong bias towards certain invertebrates and their attributes, and even a person's level of education or age can play a part in how we perceive them.

“For example, people enjoy bees - but a bee that looks like a wasp? Not so much.

“However, through science communication I've learned some of these attitudes can be reversed. This has been fed back to me through viewers of my social media channels on numerous occasions.”

As well as his appearances on Springwatch and ITV News, where he talked about the impact of insect decline, Kirk’s work has appeared in BBC Wildlife magazine, Wild Cornwall, and more.

Kirk is now working at leading UK consultancy, Abtech as a Graduate Ecologist, with his work including surveying protected species, habitats and invertebrates.

He secured the role after completing his studies at Harper Adams – and is a keen advocate for the University’s courses.

He added: “It was an easy choice for me to undertake the Entomology MSc at Harper Adams. The course has a fantastic reputation among those interested in insects and other invertebrates. The Entomology team is outstanding, with expertise in a wide range of entomological fields such as integrated pest management, conservation, science communication, and my personal favourite - applied ecology.

“We've been taught key skills to prepare us for industry and a PhD. My personal highlight was the taxonomy week, where we were taught how to identify key groups of insects by national experts.

“This was an incredible experience, not only getting to meet some big entomological names, but also learn from some of the best in Britain!

“I also found the graduate outcomes of the course extremely attractive, as a key driver for further education was to improve my employability and work in insect science.”

Kirk’s work in this field includes the he developed with BASIS.

He said: “I jumped at the chance at this because of the value provided to both people and our wildlife. 

“Each course is aimed at a group of beneficial insects including bees, wasps, beetles and true flies.

“The benefits of pollination are commonly understood by the public due to the efforts of wildlife organisations such as Bumblebee Conservation Trust and Buglife and news outlets.

“However, a lot of the nuance is lost - leading to an oversimplification of the service being primarily provided by the honey bee, Apis mellifera. This couldn't be further from the truth, even when it comes to bees as a group, which comprise approximately 270 species in Britain.

“Aside from a few exceptions, a diversity of pollinators provides a much more effective service than a single species. This means greater yields of produce, improved quality - and most importantly, food security and ecosystem stability.

“You do not need to be a landowner to benefit from the courses, as they are aimed at wildlife enthusiasts and anyone with an interest in UK wildlife and sustainability, alongside agricultural professionals and gardeners.”

As he prepares to graduate, Kirk is urging anyone considering following in his footsteps to consider applying to Harper Adams.

He added: “The course also caters for a wide range of experience levels.

“If you're experienced but want to build on what you have, you can do that. If you love insects but haven't studied them in a formal way, you also won't be left behind.

“For anyone considering the course, I highly recommend it - I have no regrets!”

_{All pictures reproduced with thanks to Kirk Mason Photography}