bio/curriculum vitae

Dr Susi Arnott        

Semi-retired film-maker with a background in laboratory research. Art-science projects for galleries in recent years led to re-engagement with biology, this time in the natural world.

2023: Principal Investigator, ‘Slimewatch2: this time it’s Deptford’; a citizen-science initiative in collaboration with the Creekside Discovery Centre, funded by the British Phycological Society

2020 to date: mentor/tutor to British Phycological Society’s video bursary scheme.

2019: photographer/film-maker of ‘Slimewatch’, a collaboration within University of Westminster (Susi was teaching film at their Harrow campus; phycologist Prof Jane Lewis was at Life Sciences, Cavendish campus)

2018 to date: Carbon Literacy training (originally with BAFTA’s albert initiative, now via Walking Pictures)

2007 to date: gallery and exhibition work includes shows at the Museum of London, Bridport Arts Centre, Photofusion, the Brunel Sinking Shaft, the Cinema Museum, the Regent Street Gallery Café, Bargehouse (South Bank), Bartlett School of Architecture (UCL) and UCL’s Science Library

2003 to date: director of Walking Pictures Ltd.

1986 to 2020: freelance camerawoman, editor and series producer/director. Multiple broadcast credits on Channels 4, Five, BBC2 and BBC World; non-broadcast clients include the NHS, Oxfam, Christian Aid, British Council, Farm Africa, SOS Sahel, Gurkha Welfare Trust, Wellcome, FAO (UN) and the governments of Papua New Guinea and Kenya

Experience as a trainer/lecturer includes production-based training in developing countries for SOS Sahel, Cape Farewell, Oxfam, CAFOD, UNHCR, IIED and DFID (now merged into FCDO)
More formal teaching includes documentary film-making at City Lit (adult education) and University of Westminster; MA Television for Development at University of Reading, BA film at LCC (UAL), and visiting lectureships at Universities of Birmingham, Sussex and Manchester

Clients as a researcher/writer include UK’s Health&Safety Executive, the EU, Oxfam, the International Broadcasting Trust, BBC’s World Service Trust (now ‘Media Action’)

EDUCATION, TRAINING & ACADEMIC RECORD:

2016-2019: Honorary Senior Research Fellow, University of Sussex

2017: City&Guilds Award in Education and Training (formerly PTLSS), City Lit (London)

2016: HEFAT (Hostile Envt.&First Aid Training) certified with Centurion/Blue Mountain

2008-2011: Honorary Research Fellow in Visual Anthropology, U.Manchester

1996: PRA training with Scottish Participatory Initiatives

1990: graduated from National Film & Television School (in documentary and camera)

1983: PhD, UCL (control of gene expression in plant tissue culture), funded by SRC

1979: Industry-funded research, University of Minnesota

1978: BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences, University of Nottingham, UK

UK passport; working French and Melanesian tok pisin
Married, no children