Benito made his first TV appearance on Go Green with the Grimwades (Milkshake!, Channel 5), a show aimed at showing preschoolers how to better care for the environment, where he explained the importance of butterflies and meadow habitats. He has also collaborated with NGO Butterfly Conservation to make a series of presenter-led films highlighting the latest trends in butterfly and moth research, and in 2023, performed at the Grand Final of the University of Bristol’s “Three Minute Thesis” competition.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, he launched his own podcast which humorously celebrated the extraordinary efforts of early-career biologists during the pandemic. He was also asked by the University of Bristol’s undergraduate admissions team to produce an entertaining video that explained how a Biology degree would operate in a pandemic, which subsequently resulted in an interview on BBC Radio Bristol. In 2023, he also hosted a popular science engagement activity at Green Man Festival aimed at explaining the diversity of lifespans across the animal kingdom.

Background and Academic Career

Benito’s infectious curiosity for the natural world began at a very young age. Ever since he got his first camera, aged 12, he has been presenting and producing his own films, mainly focusing on exciting UK species but his Neotropical research and Mexican dual-nationality have also led to some life-changing wildlife encounters across Latin America.

Benito graduated with a First Class Honours BSc degree in Biology in 2017 where he developed a key interest in evolutionary biology and the mechanisms by which animals have evolved to see the world, both of which form the focus of Benito’s academic work.

He stayed at Bristol to undertake a Masters, and later a fully funded PhD where the main focus of his research was to uncover the sensory realms of a unique group of butterflies native to the Amazon rainforests of eastern Ecuador. However, Benito’s work at Bristol also led him to conduct research on camouflage properties of moth wings, the mesmerising iridescent exoskeleton of scarab beetles, and foraging behaviour of bumblebees.

Benito is now an independent research fellow at the University of St Andrews where he studies how bush crickets have evolved the remarkable capability of resembling dead or living leaves. He is funded by the 1851 Royal Commission for the Exhibition, an institution initially founded by Prince Albert with the aim of “increasing the means of industrial education and extending the influence of science and art upon productive industry”. He conducts research in collaboration with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama.

The dissemination of science via public engagement therefore plays an integral role in Benito’s day-to-day academic life.

Benito has authored several academic publications in high impact biology journals including Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Evolution, and Journal of Evolutionary Biology and his work has been covered by the likes of Forbes, BBC Widllife Magazine and Science Times.

‘Benito’s Explanations’ YouTube channel

Benito developed his niche as a presenter by creating revision videos for his ‘Benito’s Explanations’ YouTube channel whilst studying for exams. These videos were highly commended by many of his lecturers who went on to promote his videos to their future students. Since then, he’s continued to make engaging, educational and humorous content that combine his two passions of nature and science.  He has harvested over 300,000 views and over 2,000 subscribers on YouTube. He is currently producing a series of videos documenting the realities of conducting fieldwork in the depths of the Amazon rainforest.

He uses his Instagram platform (1.6K followers) to collaborate with UK based nature charities such as The Wildlife Trusts and Butterfly Conservation and he is an annual member of the media team for the Festival of Nature’s City Nature Challenge with several of his films being shown on the big screen at the main festival. Benito became an Ambassador for The Rivers Trust in 2020 who he frequently makes educational promo for.

Co-presenter science & nature radio show

He co-presented his own science/nature radio show (Nature Xposed) on the Bristol University radio station (BURST) where he interviewed a mix of academics and wildlife film producers.

Benito Wainwright’s agent

Benito Wainwright’s agent is:

David Foster
talent@dfmanagement.tv
01264 771726