The Wild World On Our Doorstep

Dr Natalie Cooper

Natalie is a merit researcher with us. She is an ecologist and evolutionary biologist who works on understanding how the diversity of life evolved and how we can protect it from human activities. Natalie works on a variety of animal groups, including mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fishes.

Molly Easton

Molly is Co-Founder and Co-Director of Youngwilders, a youth-led Community Interest Company (CIC) accelerating UK nature recovery and centring young people in the process and movement. She’s dedicated to upskilling and energising the next generation of environmental stewards. Her aim is to ensure the future nature sector is diverse in terms of age, ethnicity and talent. Previously, she worked on landscape-scale recovery strategies at Natural England and creative climate communications at Art Partner. 

Alessandro Giusti

Alessandro is our Senior Curator of Lepidoptera – moths and butterflies. He’s responsible for part of the Lepidoptera collections we care for. His role involves looking after, researching and providing access to around two million specimens of moths in the superfamilies Bombycoidea, Lasiocampoidea, Mimallonoidea and Zygaenoidea.

Dr Erica McAlister

Erica is our Principal Curator for Fleas and Flies. She’s been recording, researching and curating flies for more than 20 years, both in the UK and across the world.  

Elliot Newton

Elliot is one of the co-founders of Citizen Zoo. His background in urban wildlife conservation spans well over 10 years. He has a breadth of experience in the development, design and implementation of conservation projects in London. Elliot oversaw the delivery of the UK’s first rewilding conference in 2019 and his passion for beavers led to the creation of the London Beaver Working Group. Since identifying Paradise Fields as a suitable reintroduction site, he’s been at the forefront of the Ealing Beaver Project. He works on this project alongside Ealing Wildlife Group, Ealing Council and Friends of Horsenden, helping to drive it forward from a dream to reality. 

Dr Gothamie Weerakoon

Gothamie is our Senior Curator of Lichens and Slime Moulds. His research interests lie in the taxonomy and ecology of lichens and the use of lichenised fungi for bioindication and conservation in endangered habitats. The Great Britain and Northern Ireland lichen collections we care for include more than 100,000 lichens, non-lichenised fungi and the earliest scientifically accurate fungi models by James Sowerby. Gothamie is passionate about making these collections accessible for both scientific and historical research, supporting study and conservation efforts.

• All ages are welcome, but content is recommended for ages 16+.

• We recommend arriving at least 15 minutes early to allow time to get to the Attenborough Studio.

• When you arrive at the Museum, show your ticket to our staff to jump the queue.

• This event is wheelchair accessible.

• If you’re unable to wait in queues for long periods, speak to our security staff and they’ll fast track your entry.

• Seating is available in the event space.

• Guide dogs are welcome at the Museum. Water for them is available on request.

• The nearest accessible toilets are on the Ground Floor of our Orange Zone. We also have a Changing Places toilet on the Ground Floor of our Blue Zone.

• Blue Badge parking spaces are available. Request a parking space by emailing us at [email protected].

• We can provide you with a wheelchair or folding chair to carry if you email us at [email protected].

• If you have any questions or would like to discuss accessibility requirements, email us at [email protected].