Step behind the scenes and meet the small but dedicated team who help bring APHA’s science stories to life, turning complex work into something anyone can enjoy. Let us hear from Heather O’Sullivan, who leads on blog content to tell us more.
When you read a blog, you usually get a glimpse into one person’s world. You hear their voice, pick up on their enthusiasm and, hopefully, learn something new along the way. What you might not often see is the small crowd of people behind the scenes who help make that blog possible. So today, I wanted to pull back the curtain a little and introduce you to the team that keeps the APHA science blog ticking.
I work in a place full of fascinating discoveries and stories. Every day at APHA, scientists, analysts and specialists are improving how we understand and protect animal and plant health. They tackle everything from emerging diseases to biosecurity challenges that affect the whole country and beyond. Our blog gives us a way to share some of that brilliant work with you in a more personal and accessible way.
But blogs do not write themselves, and they certainly do not appear by magic. Behind each post, there is a small but dedicated team: editors, coordinators, writers and people who give things a final polish before they go live. You may see one name at the top of a post, but it is rarely just one person who helps to bring it to life.
Why we blog
Before introducing some of the team, I want to explain why we put so much effort into keeping the APHA science blog going.
There is something unique about blogs compared with more formal communications. A blog lets us speak directly to readers in a more personal style. It allows scientists and specialists to tell their own stories in their own words. For an organisation that could easily be seen as distant or technical, a blog helps to add warmth and personality.
We also know that science can sometimes feel complicated or inaccessible. Our aim is to take complex work and turn it into something that anyone can understand. This helps make animal and plant health science more open to everyone.
Finally, we blog because we enjoy it. There is something satisfying about helping a colleague shape a story, watching their confidence grow, and seeing readers engage with their work. It reminds us why science matters.
How we work as a team
We do not sit together in one big office. Some of us are writers at heart, some come from scientific backgrounds, and others are experts in editing or communications. A couple of us simply enjoy turning a complicated idea into a readable story.
When a new blog idea comes in, I am usually the first person to pick it up and help the author in their drafting journey. Once a draft is written, other members of the team support with reviewing, editing or checking accessibility.
We also spend time thinking about tone. A blog is not a report or a briefing. It should sound like a real person talking. So, one of the simplest checks we always encourage is to read it out loud. If it sounds stiff or formal, we help the author loosen it up. If it sounds like their natural voice, then we know we are on the right track.
It is a team effort we are proud of.
Introducing some of the blog team
Heather O'Sullivan
I am the Science Engagement Lead within the Science Directorate at APHA. For the past seven years, I have led on content development for the APHA science blog and chair the blog’s editorial board, making sure we communicate APHA’s scientific achievements and impact in a clear, engaging, and high‑quality way.
Passionate about both science and storytelling, I love sharing the innovative work of APHA’s talented teams. My role brings together my enthusiasm for science engagement and my creative drive, and I am proud to be a dedicated member of the blog team.
Nichola Stamper
I manage a busy Veterinary Investigation Centre in rural Cumbria, overseeing the team, laboratory operations and diagnostic services for farmers and vets across England, Wales and Scotland.
After 25 years with APHA, starting as an Assistant Scientific Officer in TB diagnostics and progressing through science and management roles, I eventually found my way back to Cumbria. I am also a Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) ambassador, passionate about engaging young people and our local community, often signposting students to our science blogs as accessible, up-to-date science.
Being part of the blog’s editorial board keeps me connected to new projects and techniques, and I enjoy reviewing drafts and thinking about how our audience will connect with them.
Rosie Coutts
As the Science Events Manager at APHA, I’m lucky enough to sit at the crossroads where science, storytelling, and people meet. I help bring a wide range of internal and external events to life, from high profile scientific showcases to hands-on STEM activities with schools, colleges and universities. Although I’m not a scientist by training, I love engaging with people, especially young people who are learning about what they would like to do with their futures. One of the most rewarding parts of my role is helping to showcase the exciting, meaningful career opportunities that exist within APHA and across the wider Civil Service to students. Our blogs help to show that science is a landscape filled with creativity, innovation and purpose, which is something that genuinely inspires me.
Before joining APHA, my career took me through the worlds of brand marketing, editing and communications, both in the UK and abroad, including working in an international environmental company. Those experiences gave me a passion for storytelling, engagement, and connecting with people is exactly why I joined the APHA Blog team. I wanted to learn more about the incredible science happening across our organisation—work that protects animals, plants, the environment, and ultimately all of us. I wanted to use my background to help amplify those stories: highlighting our brilliant scientists and the work they do, celebrating the innovation taking place every day, and making our science accessible and inspiring to everyone, especially future generations.
What we hope you take away from our posts
There are three things we hope people feel when they read our science blog: feel informed, feel connected and feel welcomed.
A final word from me
Writing and editing these posts has made me appreciate just how much brilliant work goes on across the Animal and Plant Health Agency. Behind every project and discovery are people who genuinely care about protecting our animals, plants and environment. If our blog can help tell even a fraction of those stories, then it is worth every minute we spend on it.
I hope you enjoy getting to know the team. And if you ever read a post and think, “I would like to know more about that,” please tell us. We are always looking for the next good story to share!
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