Dr. Richard Smith
International Keynote Speaker & Marine Conservation Expert
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"A surprise-filled delight from start to finish! Dr. Smith's presentation style is as captivating as his discoveries." — DIVER Magazine
Speaker Bio
Dr. Richard Smith is a British award-winning marine biologist, underwater photographer, and bestselling author who transforms complex ocean science into captivating stories that inspire and educate audiences worldwide. As the world's leading authority on pygmy seahorses and the first person to earn a PhD focused entirely on these enigmatic creatures, Richard brings unparalleled expertise and infectious passion to every presentation.
With over 4,500 dives across the globe's most biodiverse waters, Richard has discovered new species, led groundbreaking conservation research, and captured the ocean's most elusive moments through his award-winning photography. His bestselling book "The World Beneath: The Life and Times of Unknown Sea Creatures and Coral Reefs" became a #1 Amazon bestseller, demonstrating his unique ability to make marine science accessible and engaging for all audiences.
Richard's presentations blend cutting-edge scientific discoveries with stunning underwater imagery and compelling storytelling, taking audiences on unforgettable journeys to coral reefs and revealing the secret lives of creatures most will never encounter. From the discovery of new species to conservation success stories, his talks inspire wonder for the natural world while delivering crucial messages about marine protection.
Recent Speaking Highlights
Prestigious Institutions
Smithsonian Museum, Washington DC - Sold-out book launch event
The Linnean Society of London - Presented at the world's oldest biological society, following in Charles Darwin's footsteps
The Zoological Society of London - Ocean research presentation
Natural England Seahorse Working Group - Founding member and expert advisor
International Conferences & Festivals
REEF Fest Keynote Speaker - Key Largo, Florida
Burford Literary Festival - Cotswolds, UK
SyngBio Conference Keynote - The Florida Aquarium, Tampa
Indo-Pacific Fish Conferences - Perth, Australia & Okinawa, Japan
Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) - Singapore
Australian International Dive Expo - Brisbane
Underwater Tour Australia - Multi-city speaking tour (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide)
Media & Podcasts
Underwater Tribe Live Show - Pygmy seahorse discoveries
Animals to the Max Podcast - Featured expert guest
Go Diving Show - UK's premier diving exhibition
DIVE Show - National Exhibition Centre, UK
Key Speaking Topics (cull this down)
The World Beneath: Discovering New Marine Life Journey through Richard's groundbreaking discoveries, including the naming of three new species from Japan to South Africa, and the incredible story of finding pygmy seahorses where none should exist.
From First Dive to PhD: A Marine Biologist's Journey An inspiring story of how a single dive in 1996 led to becoming the world's leading pygmy seahorse expert and the first person to earn a PhD on these creatures.
Award-Winning Underwater Photography for Conservation How stunning imagery can change hearts, minds, and policy to protect marine ecosystems, featuring Richard's magazine-cover photographs.
Small Fish, Global Impact: The Pygmy Seahorse Revolution Discover how studying the ocean's tiniest horses revolutionized marine biodiversity understanding and influenced international conservation policy.
Modern Ocean Exploration & Species Discovery What it takes to explore remote reefs in the 21st century and why countless discoveries still await beneath the waves.
From Science to Storytelling: Writing 'The World Beneath' The journey of transforming complex research into a #1 bestselling book that makes marine science accessible to everyone.
Expertise & Credentials
Scientific Leadership:
IUCN Species Specialist Group - Seahorse, Pipefish and Seadragon Specialist Group member since 2016
Species Focal Point - Global Pygmy Seahorse Expert for iSeahorse.org
Natural England Advisory Panel - Founding member, Seahorse Working Group (2021-present)
IUCN Red List Assessor - Including the first Critically Endangered seahorse species
Academic Achievements:
PhD in Marine Biology - First doctorate focused entirely on pygmy seahorses (2011)
MSc Marine Ecology & Evolution - University of Queensland (Dean's Commendation)
BSc (Hons) Zoology - University of Southampton
Fellow - Royal Geographical Society & The Linnean Society of London
Publication & Media Recognition:
#1 Amazon Bestseller - "The World Beneath" with 500+ five-star reviews
International Media Features - National Geographic, BBC, CNN, Scientific American
Peer-Reviewed Publications - Multiple papers in leading journals
Magazine Covers - Dozens of international diving and photography publications
What Audiences Say
"Richard Smith manages the tightrope act with aplomb, revealing secrets of coral reefs and their inhabitants in a fascinating and accessible way that will considerably enhance your understanding and appreciation of the underwater world." — Simon Pridmore, X-Ray Magazine
"A surprise-filled delight from start to finish! Dr. Smith's presentation style is as captivating as his discoveries." — DIVER Magazine
"This guide is not just a tangible thing of beauty but also an enduring record built on proven knowledge, dedication and skill." — UltraMarine Magazine
Perfect Speaker For (cull or consolidate)
Conservation & Environmental Conferences
Scientific Symposiums & Academic Events
Corporate Innovation & Leadership Summits
Educational Institutions & Universities
Photography & Arts Festivals
Travel & Adventure Conferences
Marine Industry & Diving Events
Literary Festivals & Book Events
Speaking Impact by the Numbers
4,500+ dives across global waters
3 new species discoveries and scientific naming
#1 Amazon bestselling author
500+ five-star book reviews
10+ years of international speaking experience
4 continents of speaking engagements
Sold-out events at world-renowned institutions
Book Dr. Richard Smith
Transform your next event with presentations that educate, inspire, and captivate. Richard's unique combination of scientific expertise, storytelling mastery, and award-winning visuals creates unforgettable experiences that leave lasting impacts on audiences.
Available for:
Keynote presentations
Conference speaking
Corporate events
Educational workshops
Media interviews
Panel discussions
Virtual presentations
Speaking Topics Customized to your audience and event objectives.
"The oceans are full of species we are yet to discover, and I'm passionate about sharing these incredible discoveries with audiences around the world, inspiring the next generation of ocean explorers and conservationists." — Dr. Richard Smith
Contact for Bookings Ready to bring world-class marine expertise to your event? Get in touch to discuss availability, speaking fees, and custom presentation topics.
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FYI Duplicate ABOUT PAGE content below
Media
Richard's discoveries and research have garnered international attention:
Discovering New Species
Richard's exploration has led to remarkable discoveries in the world's oceans:
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Japanese Pygmy Seahorse (2018)
Working with international colleagues from the USA, Australia, and of course Japan, Richard named Hippocampus japapigu – proving that pygmy seahorses aren't limited to tropical waters and expanding their known range to subtropical Japanese reefs.
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South African Pygmy Seahorse (2020)
Richard and his research team described Hippocampus nalu from South Africa – the first pygmy seahorse ever found in the Indian Ocean. As Richard noted, "It was like finding a Kangaroo in Norway."
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Sodwana Pygmy Pipehorse (2024)
On the same expedition that led to the description of the South African pygmy seahorse, Richard and Dr Louw Claassens collected the Sodwana Pygmy Pipehorse, which they named with taxonomist Graham Short as Cylix nkosi in 2024.
Leading Global Conservation Efforts
Richard's expertise has positioned him at the forefront of international marine conservation:
IUCN Species Survival Commission: In 2016, Richard was invited to join the prestigious IUCN Seahorse, Pipefish and Seadragon Specialist Group (SPSSG) – the recognised world authority on these fishes. In 2020, he was appointed as the Species Focal Point for Pygmy Seahorses within the Specialist Group, and serves as the Global Pygmy Seahorse Expert for iSeahorse.org, which uses citizen science to advance seahorse research and conservation worldwide.
National Advisory Role: Since July 2021, Richard has been a founding member of the Natural England Seahorse Working Group, an independent expert panel advising on marine wildlife licensing and development guidance for British seahorse species.
IUCN Red List Work: Richard has served as a reviewer for various pygmy seahorses and syngnathids on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, including Denise’s and Bargibant’s species, which he studied during his PhD research. In 2024 he co-authored the Red List assessment for the first Critically Endangered seahorse, the Walea Soft Coral pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus waleananus)
'The World Beneath:
The Life and Times of Unknown Sea Creatures and Coral Reefs'
Richard's ability to translate complex science into engaging stories culminated in his popular science book 'The World Beneath: The Life and Times of Unknown Sea Creatures and Coral Reefs' – a #1 bestseller on Amazon that covers his wide-ranging work from marine biology to natural history observations and conservation.
The book's success led to a sold-out launch event at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC and speaking engagements at prestigious venues including The Linnean Society of London – where he followed in the footsteps of Charles Darwin at the world's oldest biological society.
Expedition Leader
Richard's passion for sharing marine knowledge extends to leading diving expeditions worldwide. Since 2013, he has personally guided small-group expeditions to some of the planet's most biodiverse waters, combining his scientific expertise with underwater photography instruction. These expeditions not only provide participants with exceptional diving experiences but also contribute to ongoing research and conservation efforts.
Covers & Publications
Recognition & Media Coverage
Richard's discoveries and research have garnered international attention:
National Geographic: "This Colourful New Seahorse is the Size of a Grain of Rice"
BBC: "Incredible and tiny seahorse discovered in Japan"
CNN: “From the sex lives of pygmy seahorses to parasites living in fish nostrils”
Mongabay: "Top 10 New Species of 2018"
Scientific Publications: Multiple peer-reviewed papers in leading journals including Marine Ecology Progress Series, Zookeys, Ichthyology & Herpetology and Coral Reefs.
Selected Scientific Publications
Dr. Richard Smith’s Google Scholar
Short G, Claassens L, Smith R, et al. (2020). Hippocampus nalu, a new species of pygmy seahorse from South Africa, and the first record from the Indian Ocean. ZooKeys.
Short G, Smith R, Motomura H, et al. (2018). Hippocampus japapigu, a new species of pygmy seahorse from Japan, with a redescription of H. pontohi. ZooKeys 779: 27-49.
Smith RE, Grutter AS, Tibbetts IR (2012). Extreme habitat specialisation and population structure of two gorgonian-associated pygmy seahorses. Marine Ecology Progress Series 444: 195-206.
Smith RE, Tibbetts IR (2008). Mating and birth of Denise's pygmy seahorses observed in the wild. Coral Reefs 27(3): 617.
Current Mission
Today, Richard continues his multifaceted work as a marine biologist, leading expeditions that combine cutting-edge research with conservation education. Through his photography, writing, speaking, and field research, he works tirelessly to ensure that the ocean's most remarkable creatures – from the tiniest pygmy seahorse to entire coral reef ecosystems – are understood, appreciated, and protected for future generations.
"The oceans are full of species we are yet to discover, and I'm passionate about trying to find and study these unknown animals."
– Dr. Richard Smith
Connect with Dr. Richard Smith
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