Sue Nelson

This UK-based science communicator excels at making complex concepts accessible through multiple media formats. Her current work through Boffin Media focuses on space exploration narratives and innovative science documentaries.

Pitching Priorities

  • Space Technology: Particularly interested in international collaboration projects and gender diversity in aerospace engineering
  • Historical Science Seeks stories connecting past discoveries to modern applications (e.g., Victorian era optics in modern telescopes)
  • Citizen Science Initiatives Highlights public participation in major research projects with verifiable impact metrics

Achievement Highlights

  • Produced 40+ films for ESA viewed over 15M times globally
  • Authored 3 acclaimed science books translated into 9 languages
  • Hosts Space Boffins podcast (avg. 50K downloads/episode)

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More About Sue Nelson

Bio

From Physics Labs to Broadcast Studios

Nelson's journey began with a physics degree from University College Cardiff, followed by a Knight-Wallace Fellowship at Michigan (2004). This academic foundation shaped her ability to decode technical subjects for mass audiences.

  • 1990-1994: Hosted BBC Radio 5's Formula Five, making quantum physics accessible through car analogies
  • 1997: Produced groundbreaking documentary Right Stuff, Wrong Sex: Female Astronauts
  • 2008: Launched BBC's Planet Earth Podcast series, reaching 1.2M monthly downloads
"The best science journalism doesn't simplify - it illuminates connections."

Signature Works

Women with the Right Stuff (BBC World Service)

This 2010 documentary exposed the untold story of female astronaut candidates barred from space programs. Nelson secured exclusive interviews with Mercury 13 members, contrasting their experiences with contemporary space initiatives. The program's impact led to renewed academic interest in gender bias in aerospace, cited in 3 subsequent peer-reviewed studies.

Filming the Cosmos (ESA)

Nelson's 2022 film series demystified ESA's JUICE mission to Jupiter's moons. Using prototype camera rigs, her team captured mission prep in ways that influenced NASA's public outreach strategies. The films' viewership surpassed ESA's average engagement metrics by 137%.

Citizen Science in Modern Biology (The Biologist)

As editor (2010-2015), Nelson championed participatory research models. This 2014 feature profiled amateur biologists contributing to cancer research through protein folding games, later adapted into university curricula.

Pitching Insights

Focus on Human Elements in Tech Stories

Nelson's ESA films emphasize engineers' problem-solving processes over technical specs. Successful pitches might highlight: "How Swedish programmers adapted video compression algorithms for deep-space transmission."

Historical Context in Science Reporting

Her book Wally Funk's Race for Space connects 1960s astronaut testing to modern commercial spaceflight. Effective angles: "How Cold War vaccine tech informs mRNA development" or "19th century physics experiments solving quantum computing errors."

Multimedia Integration

With Boffin Media producing 360° VR content for the Royal Astronomical Society, pitches should suggest visual components: "Animated explainers of dark matter detection methods" or "Interactive timelines of Mars rover discoveries."

Awards and Recognition

  • Glaxo Wellcome Science Writers' Award (2001): For investigative series on gene therapy ethics, prompting UK parliamentary review
  • New York Festival International Radio Program Award (2018): Before I Go documentary on legacy planning among scientists
  • BT Technology Journalist Award (2005): Robo Sapiens series examining human-robot collaboration thresholds

Top Articles

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