The Association for Science Education’s Annual Conference 2026 was held at Nottingham University last week (7-10th January). The significance for Moss Safari was that one, the Moss Safari book had been shortlisted for the ASE Book of the Year 2026 and two, I was doing a presentation to launch the new look,updated and free Moss Safari resources for teachers, parents and hobbyists. Here’s a blog of what happened. Did Moss Safari book win? What did delegates think of the new resources? Well I’ll spill all below.
It was a cold and snowy few days in Nottingham, but that didn’t stop the event and the frost covered moss was a treat to see on my trek onto campus each day.
Launch of new Moss Safari Resources
On Friday I gave a Moss Safari presentation entitled ‘Moss Safari: A gateway to Microscopy’ to an audience of about thirty educators, including those from the Netherlands, France and Belgium as well as those from the UK. The focus of this session was to showcase the new updated free to download resources for Moss Safari.
The headlines: There are now refreshed, rebranded and updated Moss Safari identification sheets, instruction sheets and infographics about each of the Microscopic Big Five. They are at three levels: Primary, secondary or Tertiary. Download them, use them. Let me know what you think! There were ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhhs’ at these, so I expect lots of downloads!
Book of the year awards
This year was particularly special because my Moss Safari book was on the shortlist for the Book of the Year Award. There was a buzz about the book throughout the conference. I was asked to sign personal copies, pose for a few pictures and chat to people who have enjoyed the book. To add to the drama, the Moss Safari book stocks were low at the start of the conference and sold out by the end. I’m delighted to say that the book is being reprinted and will be available again in February.
I was hopeful that the Moss Safari book would secure the winning slot and I had a gin and tonic with me at the award ceremony. David Allen, the ASE Chair, read the nominations and you can hear the nomination in the short Youtube clip below. It’s lovely to hear nice words from others about the book and how they see it!
But alas, Moss Safari, did not make the winning spot. The Brain book won. I’m delighted that Moss Safari got to a short list: it makes me realise that people are noticing it and recognising that it is a good read!
In addition, there was this excellent review in recent Biologist!
People also told me stories of how they use Moss Safari and the impact on them and others. For example, someone told me about a teenage girl who was a school refuser and has now started using a microscope to do Moss Safari. I have had several examples of where people have seen moss near them or on holiday and say they ‘thought of me!’ Others, how they use it for particular year groups or how it has converted a physics teacher to looking at something biological!
All in all, a great conference to share the word of moss and celebrate the growing success of Moss Safari.
I love to hear how and where you do Moss Safari and the impact on you and others. Do let me know your stories about Moss Safari. I might even blog about them, with your permission!
Moss Safari 