Hi everyone! I’m Gerry and I’m a science communicator at Cardiff University.

What does that mean? Well, it means I work with scientists to tell the story of the incredible research they do – whether it’s trying to cure cancer, solve a tricky climate change question or save an endangered species.

I think it’s super important people know about this work (and have some understanding of it) so it can help people in the real world. 

When I was little, I always wanted to be a vet or a journalist – two very, very different jobs! I always loved science and animals, but I also loved to write stories. I decided to study veterinary pathology at Bristol University which involved learning about how animals’ bodies work and how to keep them well.

I discovered that I enjoyed writing about this even more than working in the lab, so after finishing that degree I did a course in newspaper journalism at Cardiff University. I spent many years as a journalist, telling people’s stories and working on the biggest stories of the day, from wars and elections to the royal family and the climate crisis.

My journey as a journalist took me to the BBC and all over the world, from Pakistan to Gibraltar – it certainly hasn’t been dull!  

Now I love helping scientists to tell the world about their amazing discoveries. They are such clever and inspiring people but sometimes they aren’t the best at shouting about their work – or even explaining it!

I try to help them to explain it as simply as possible so that when their research is covered by the media it is accurate and easy to take in. It’s not always easy to put complex science into words that people can understand – or in a way they won’t find boring – but it’s so important to have some basic knowledge not just to help ourselves and our planet stay fit and healthy, but also to help inspire the next generation of scientists. Because I think reading about a big life-changing discovery could do just that.

The COVID-19 pandemic has proven that we all need to know a little bit about science because it affects all our daily lives. It’s pretty mind-blowing when you think about it! 

You can find out more about Cardiff University’s media centre here.