Sky TV Nature Series Will Feature Derby Academic's Expertise
11 June 2013
Derby's Professor Karim Vahed, who is an expert in the evolution of insect mating behaviour, has advised on Sky TV's Micromonsters 3D
One of the most enjoyable aspects of my involvement was spending an afternoon in the production studios watching Sir David Attenborough being involved with the filming.
Sir David has been an inspiration to me since childhood and helped to foster my fascination with the natural world, so it was an amazing experience to get to see him face to face.
”A University of Derby academic who was asked to share his expertise on the sex lives of insects with Sky TV will be watching closely as his work, and some of his own insects, feature on Sir David Attenborough's brand new 3D nature series which starts on Saturday (June 15 2013).
Micromonsters 3D, produced by Colossus Productions for Sky TV and IMAX cinemas, narrated by Sir David Attenborough, explores the secret world of disguise and espionage, social networking and courtship, and pillage, parenthood and relationships that goes on beneath our feet in the insect world.
The fascinating six part series will explore the world and the relationships of the most dominant and durable animals on the planet - terrestrial arthropods - for the first time ever in 3D.
Derby's Professor Karim Vahed, who is an expert in the evolution of insect mating behaviour was invited to the film set earlier this year. He assisted in the filming of the mating and nuptial feeding behaviour of the tropical house cricket which is bred at the University.
Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society, Dr Vahed, said: "I am incredibly excited about watching this ambitious new production from Sky. The production company used revolutionary pioneering macroscopic 3D techniques, which will fully immerse viewers in the lives of terrestrial arthropods, including my own crickets.
"One of the most enjoyable aspects of my involvement was spending an afternoon in the production studios watching Sir David Attenborough being involved with the filming.
"Sir David has been an inspiration to me since childhood and helped to foster my fascination with the natural world, so it was an amazing experience to get to see him face to face."
Terrestrial arthropods outnumber people in their hundreds of billions and have survived for 500 million years. They have outlived every catastrophe Earth has thrown at them, seen the dinosaurs come and go, and even witnessed our own arrival.
In Micromonsters 3D Sir David Attenborough will take the viewer deep into the macroscopic world of bugs that deeply fascinates him. He will uncover their marvellous adaptability, from the primitive evolutionary design of the millipede through to the graceful apex predators that exist today.
The programme will descend into the watery depths to witness aquatic battles, explore intricate spider webs, and get closer than ever before to the fangs and claws that create this fascinating world.
You can watch the new series on the Sky 3D channel from Saturday June 15 at 8pm, and in 2D on Sky 1/Sky 1 HD.
Micromonsters 3D has been made by the Bafta and Jackson Hole Award-winning makers of 'Flying Monsters 3D' and 'Kingdom of Plants 3D', Colossus Productions, which is a joint venture between Atlantic Productions Ltd and Sky to develop original 3D programmes.
For more on studying Biology and Zoology at the University of Derby visit www.derby.ac.uk
For more on the programme visit http://sky1.sky.com/sky1hd-shows/micro-monsters-3d-with-david-attenborough
