Martha Harwood was selected to join UK-China Film Collab as a member via the organisation’s Future Talent Programme 2021-2022 when she was a second-year student at Lancaster University.

Since then, Martha finished her studies and charged into the world of biodiversity conservation, something that she is always passionate about.

Here is her latest introduction:

“I am working as an entomologist at the African Natural History Research Trust. I am primarily working on sorting trap samples from ecological surveys in western and Southern Africa. I have been developing museum-based skills including pinning and mounting dry specimens, sorting spirit collections and implementing integrated pest management. I am particularly focused on developing identification skills for Lepidoptera, Hemiptera and Diptera.

I hold a first class MSc in Conservation Biology from DICE at the University of Kent. I gained a holistic understanding of conservation issues including protected areas management, population biology, species focused conservation and the economics of biodiversity protection. The course also allowed me to develop skills in social and natural science research, with a particular focus on statistical data analysis. I received a distinction for my masters thesis which investigated prey availability and foraging habitat management for the Red Billed choughs in Dover.

My undergraduate degree was in French Studies and Chinese and I continue to be passionate about languages and cultures. For my undergraduate dissertation, I researched experimental translation techniques and applied them to writing my own translation of excerpts from Saint-Exupéry’s ‘Courrier Sud’. I also completed a 8,000 word report for the UK-China Film Collab, investigating British journalistic coverage of Chinese-language films.

I hope to bring an interdisciplinary perspective to the conservation field and aspire to contribute to international and collaborative conservation projects.”

Contact Martha

Martha’s Contribution to UCFC:

Publications:

M. Harwood (2025), Obituary: Dame Jane Goodhall created an art in diplomacy among both humans and animals

M. Harwood (2022), Special Report: An Investigation into the British Journalistic Coverage of the Best Performing Chinese Films in Mainland China Between 2012 and 2021

M. Harwood (2022), Why do Chinese blockbusters struggle in Western journalism? 

M. Harwood (2022), Hong Kong’s Cross Cultural Cinema: A discussion with Gary Bettinson

M. Harwood (2022), Misrepresentation and Masculinity: A conversation with Dr Derek Hird on Chinese cinema

M. Harwood (2022), Exporting Chinese Film: A Discussion with Professor Chris Berry

M. Harwood (2022), Chinese Characters on Screen and the Power of ‘First Cow’: A discussion with Orion Lee

Discussion Panel:

A discussion panel titled “An Investigation into current press coverage of Chinese-language films in the UK” as part of the Odyssey: a Chinese cinema season 2022.