Tullis Matson honoured for endangered species biobank — SkimNews
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- Tullis Matson received an honorary degree from Harper Adams University as part of its 125th anniversary celebrations, calling it the "highlight" of his year despite leaving school at 16 with no qualifications due to dyslexia
- Nature's SAFE, the charity Matson founded, has frozen cells from 200 endangered species at -196°C in liquid nitrogen—from African elephants to Scotland's wildcats—with biological samples from 400 species total now in storage, some from animals extinct in the wild
- Nature's SAFE uses artificial insemination and in vitro fertilisation to protect genetic diversity and maintain healthy animal populations, functioning as a backup against extinction
- Six other recipients join Matson at the 16 September ceremony: comedian Ed Byrne, The Archers actress Felicity Finch, farmer and YouTuber Olly Harrison, Christine Tacon CBE, Prof Grant Edwards of New Zealand's Lincoln University, and John O'Brien MBE
- John O'Brien is receiving his honour for founding Anthropy, a leadership platform that holds an annual gathering at the Eden Project to consider Britain's future role in the world
Why it matters: Honouring Matson gives Harper Adams University and UK conservationists a platform to spotlight a niche cryopreservation charity most donors have never heard of. Nature's SAFE has now banked biological samples from 400 species—including some extinct in the wild—giving genetic rescue efforts a material insurance policy even as in-habitat conservation policy struggles to keep pace with biodiversity loss.
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