Simon Watt

Science Presenter

Hi

I'm Simon Watt

Science goes in and a myriad of media comes out.

I am a biologist and use all the means I can to inform and entertain.

Check out my books, TV shows, podcasts, arty stuff, museum work, educational resources, schools' science shows and consultancy work.

Get in touch

"Anyone who tries to make a distinction between education and entertainment doesn't know the first thing about either."

Marshall McLuhan

I spend my life making information interesting. I can see where the story is and know which tools and techniques to use to tell it effectively.

I have always worked in science and I have always worked in performance.

Check out my material on TV, radio, YouTube, podcasts, in print or come see me live.

More about me

Writer

Books and articles

The Ugly Animals: We Can't All Be Pandas is in shops now.

I sometimes write for newspapers and magazines. My articles have appeared in The Times, The Daily Mirror, The Week, The Independent, The New York Daily and many other places in print and online.

Buy my books

Level Up Human recording in Brighton with guest Robin Ince

Level Up Human recording at Glastonbury with guests Hugh Dennis, Marcus Du Sautoy and Alice Roberts.

Level Up Human recording live in London with guest Dan Schrieber.

From when I was a guest on BBC Radio 4's Infinite Monkey Cage.

Comedian

The Ugly Animal Preservation Society and more

I have been gigging for about five years now, mostly performing through my "comedy with a conservation twist" show, The Ugly Animal Preservation Society.

Other highlights of my comedy career include my one-hour fringe show, Frogs and Friends, touring Norway with Helen Arney and Helen Keen, appearing in Robin Ince's Nine Lessons and Carols for Curious People and performing at Glastonbury.

"Had us crying with laughter"- BBC Focus

"All the wit and passion of the best comics"- Chortle

Book me

From the Winchester Science Festival

From the Cheltenham Sci Fest Lab Live tour

From the Cheltenham Science Festival

From the Science Aglow event with Brian Cox

From the Newcastle Science Festival Roadshow

From the A-Level Training Partnership training day

Artist

Theatre, digital, physical, games

Much of my art is inspired by science and nature.

In 2017 I was an Artist in Residence at the National Maritime Museum.

I make games that encourage people to play together and help them learn. I have been a consultant on about a dozen plays that have toured nationally and I make my own pieces too. I occasionally act.

Have a look

Training scientists in public engagement at York University.

An actor delivering a science show I wrote for the British Postal Museum.

At the Wellcome Collection I trained researchers to deliver effectively and worked with them to develop sci com activities.

Scientists delivering busking activities that I developed for the Francis Crick Insitute.

"Cyborg alien guide" delivering the script I wrote for a costumed tour of the Bristol Science Centre.

TV Presenter

Science and Natural History

Highlights include presenting the BAFTA-winning Inside Nature's Giants, the IFTA-winning Wild Cities, The Elephant- Life After Death and my first children's show, Rocketeers.

Behind the scenes, I have worked as a consultant and script writer. and produced and presented a few pieces for YouTube too.

Take a closer look

Podcaster

Level Up Human and more

I love radio and podcasts. I am co-creator and host of Level Up Human, the science comedy panel show where we redesign the human species with the help of expert guests and top-notch comedians.

I have also been delighted to be a guest on some of my favourite radio shows and podcasts including The Infinite Monkey Cage and Do The Right Thing.

Get your ears round this

My one hour solo comedy show

Performing at Glastonbury 2017.

MCing at Bright Club Belfast

From a performance at the Bloomsbury Theatre

From Robin Ince's 9 Carols and Lessons

Educator

Shows for schools and science fairs

Each year I perform for thousands students in the UK and abroad.

I have shows for primary schools, secondary schools and adults.

“Outstanding! This was really well explained, engaging and fun!”…

.”Very engaging and energetic presentation with terrific interaction with the audience. Really brought the topic to life”

- Various teachers

Shows for schools

The tour poster of my history of medicine panto

A physical/digital game about seed dispersal I made for the Natural History Museum.

From a performance of my Metamorphosis: After Kafka and Nabokov play performed at Shoreditch Town Hall as part of Darefest.

One of my pieces with Cracked Light Arts exhibited at the Queens House, National Maratime Museum.

Consultant

I train academics, host events and develop resources.

I regularly train teachers, students and academics in science communication, public engagement and public speaking.

I have written scripts for tours, science shows, games and more for some of the country's best museums.

Get in touch

Corporate Entertainment

Light lectures, comedy and anarchic nerdy pub quizzes

Many people from the world of business have booked me to entertain their employees and host awards ceremonies. I can also now offer UniverSilly Challenged, a pub-quiz-cum-cabaret that I run alongside Jonny Berliner.

Conservation Advocate

Inspiring change

Much of my work is centred on spreading the news of the problems facing our planet and its wildlife. This is a feature of my written, live, TV and museum work.