Science communication & popular press

Science beyond journals.

I communicate animal behavior, cognition, and carnivore ecology through books, broadcasting, public talks, documentaries, expert commentary, and long-form profiles. Public-facing work is part of how I connect the questions that motivate research with the wider fascination people have with animal societies.

Featured profile · 2026

Max Planck Forschung

A six-page Besuch bei featured-scientist profile by Nora Lessing follows my research trajectory, lion behavior, field methods, and collaborative research in Africa.

Read the Field Note →

Writing & profiles

Long-form science for broad audiences.

Books & public-facing writing

2025“The Most Charismatic of Cats” — chapter in The Last Lions, Smithsonian Books.
2024Animal Minds: What Are They Thinking? — research featured / featured scientist, Orca children's book.
2021Aesop's Animals: The Science Behind the Fables — scientific consultant, Bloomsbury Sigma.
2018The Lion's Tale — scientific consultant, DK / Penguin Random House children's book.

Research featured & expert commentary

2025MDR — expert interview on tiger-cub mortality at Leipzig Zoo.
2025SÜDKURIER — expert interview on Zurich Zoo's tiger and lion husbandry concept.
2022Smithsonian Magazine — research coverage on oxytocin and lion social behavior.
2022The Atlantic — expert interview on honey badger behavior.
2022Slate — expert interview on lion behavior and the film Beast.
2018National Geographic Online News — scientific consultant, “Do Big Cats Get Hairballs?”
2016Scientific American — research coverage, “Lions are the brainiest of the Big Cats.”
2016Science — research coverage, “Good social skills make animals smarter.”

Broadcast & presenting

On screen and behind the science.

Presenting

2021Animal IQ — presenter and co-host, eight-episode web series, PBS Nature / PBS TerraNova.
2019Wicked Weasels — TV presenter and scientific consultant, BBC / PBS.
2018Big Cats — TV presenter and scientific consultant, BBC / PBS.
2016Wild Dogs — presenter and scientific consultant, Offspring Films for Sky 1.
2015Killer IQ: Predator Challenge and Killer IQ: Predator Games — TV presenter and scientific consultant, Smithsonian Channel.

Scientific consulting & educational media

2021Wildscreen Network Festival — panelist, “Understanding Science Communication when Filming/Photographing Wildlife.”
2021Reddit AskScience AMA — Animal IQ question-and-answer session.
2020Earth at Night — scientific consultant for African lion episode, Apple TV+ / Offspring Films.
2019Franklin Park Zoo, Boston — scientific consultant, “Zoo Brains” poster exhibit.
2019The Zoo, Animal Planet — student research featured.
2021BBC, Chris Packham's Animal Einsteins, Episode 4 “Social Networkers” — research featured.