Alex Schnell
National Geographic Explorer & Wayfinder Awardee
Former Newton International Fellow at the University of Cambridge
Lead Storyteller & Producer of Secrets of the Octopus (National Geographic/Disney+)
Alex is a researcher and storyteller with a passion for inspiring diverse audiences to care for the natural world.
Her research explores the intelligence of marine animals, mainly focusing on cuttlefish and octopus.
Alex’s work reveals details of animal cognition that promote feelings of empathy and compassion, which in turn fuels our own need to protect diverse critters and their fragile ecosystems. Alex has worked at institutions such as Macquarie University, the University of Cambridge, and the Marine Biological Laboratory.
She has also completed media projects with the BBC Natural History Unit, Netflix/Wild Space and is currently working as a lead storyteller and producer on Disney+/National Geographic “Secrets of the Octopus”.
I grew up on the coast of Sydney, Australia and spent most of my time by the beach – swimming, exploring, and discovering. By age 5, my immense fascination with the ocean had been cultivated. Since then, everything in my life has revolved around my love for nature and my passion for wildlife.
My desire for exploration and my love of learning motivated me to complete a Bachelor of Marine Science at the University of Sydney. However, my thirst for knowledge was far from quenched. I later enrolled in a Ph.D. program with the Marine Predator Research Group at Macquarie University where I worked to unravel the mysteries of cuttlefish behaviour.
My major accomplishments include collaborating with leading biological experts, presenting at numerous conferences, and creating scientific and animal behaviour content for target audiences through radio interviews, press releases, social media platforms, articles in science magazines, and wildlife film documentaries.
My professional career has been directed towards furthering our understanding of the remarkable behaviours of non-human animals. The underlying driver of this pursuit has been my desire to motivate and inspire others to appreciate and marvel at the incredible wonder of animal life on Earth. Research shows that when people truly understand nature they become intrinsically motivated to conserve it.
