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This event is part of the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition 2026.

Many animals use complex, rhythmic and melodic sounds in communication, territorial defence, or as mating calls, from birds to whales and frogs to insects. In this discussion, a panel of experts reveal the magic of sound and music in the natural world.

Speakers include:

• – Reader and Royal Society University Research Fellow at the University of St Andrews, specializing in the cultural transmission, vocal learning, and function of humpback whale song
• – Royal Society University Research Fellow and Associate Professor in Animal Biology at the University of Oxford where she leads the Animal Vibration Lab in the Department of Biology
•  – Ground breaking field recordist specialising in the sound of the natural world who worked on award-winning series The Secret World of Sound (BAFTA) and Earthsounds (Emmy). Recent projects include Ocean with David Attenborough and the upcoming Blue Planet III
• – Conservationist, wildlife author and National Trust podcast presenter whose work explores how sound can deepen our connection to nature and place; how listening more closely can transform the way we experience the natural world
• – BAFTA-nominated composer, artist, DJ and presenter of the weekly on BBC Radio 6 Music and on BBC Radio 3 Unwind, whose past musical collaborators include the London Contemporary Orchestra, Max Richter and Marie Davidson

This event is part of Attenborough at 100: a weekend of wildlife.

Attending the event

This event will be held in Theatre 2 at the Royal Society on Saturday 4 July 2026, 4.10pm – 5.10pm.

• Free to attend as part of Summer Science Exhibition on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to seat availability. We recommend that visitors arrive 10-15 minutes before the session
• Eventbrite tickets for Summer Science Exhibition are recommended, with only a limited number of walk-up tickets released on the day
• Suitable for students aged 14+
• This talk will take place in person
• A recording of this talk will be available later on the
• Live subtitles will be available
• Travel and accessibility information and details on planning your visit - contact us directly to arrange any specific accessibility requirements
• Food and drink will be available for purchase at our onsite café

For all enquiries, please email us.

(Image credit: OperationCetaces)