The Faculty of Health Sciences is proud to celebrate the exceptional achievement of Professor Ryan Blumenthal, who received the Communication Award at the 2025 NSTF-South32 Awards - widely known as South Africa’s “Science Oscars”.

Prof Blumenthal, a Senior Specialist Forensic Pathologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Forensic Medicine at the University of Pretoria, was recognised for his outstanding efforts in making forensic science accessible to the public. Through his books, documentaries, public talks, and popular YouTube channel, he has not only advanced the public understanding of forensic science but also fostered international collaboration in the field.

The NSTF Awards, supported by the Department of Science and Innovation, celebrate the country’s leading contributions to science, engineering, technology, and innovation.

We congratulate Professor Blumenthal on this well-deserved recognition. 

We had the opportunity to sit down with him for an in-depth interview to learn more about his journey, his passion for forensic science, and what this award means to him.

Give tell us about your research field and why you think it is important.

Forensic pathologists are a special kind of medical expert. Forensic pathologists are not just doctors. Not just scientists. Not just academics. Forensic pathologists are a special kind of medical expert. When the odds are stacked against us, we don’t panic - we plan. When resources run dry, we don’t complain—we innovate. When faced with the impossible, we don’t retreat - we push forward. Others might see obstacles. We see challenges to be overcome. Others might hesitate. We act.

Because this profession - this calling - demands something different. It’s not for the faint of heart. It’s for those who can think under pressure, adapt without hesitation, and stand firm when everything is on the line. We do not break. We do not quit. We do what must be done.

The best forensic pathologist practices their work at an exquisite personal level of detail. They take great pride in their work. They spend the extra time. They walk the extra mile. 

To be a forensic pathologist you need skin in the game. You cannot fake enthusiasm in forensic pathology. Only the strongest will survive this discipline.

Only those with true merit, intelligence, and excellence will survive the day-to-day grind of forensic pathology. The best forensic pathologists have that something extra which cannot be named. They have a deep hunger and an insatiable curiosity. Nothing can stop them from mastering the discipline. Nothing can stop them from finding the ultimate truth.

The forensic pathologists I have respect for are pathologically authentic. They report on exactly what they find. They are about as objective as they can be. There are no cases to ‘win’ in forensic pathology. The truth is all they care about.

The best forensic pathologists cannot be bullied, threatened, or intimidated. Nothing can stop them.

I have met some truly remarkable forensic pathologists in my time. Each with own incredible stories. Some have impressed me with their sheer patience, slow dissection technique, knowing their anatomy and finding some truly weird and wonderful pathologies. My one colleague, for example, discovered a metastatic melanoma within the spinal cord. My other colleagues discovered an aneurysm on one the superior vessels of the thyroid gland. Another colleague recalled reading about a certain rare syndrome, which if one had never read about it, would never ever have been diagnosed.

These are some of the reasons why we are in this research field - and these are some of the reasons why I think it is important.

What drives your passion? What first sparked your interest and made you dedicate your career to this field? When did you know that this was what you wanted to do?

Even though I’m a forensic pathologist, I’m still a doctor and I took the Hippocratic Oath.

(The Hippocratic Oath is a set of rules for doctors. It’s a promise, amongst others, to help people and avoid causing harm. Today, the Declaration of Geneva is the updated version of that oath).

This kind of work is not for everyone.

My work has been crystalized from the messy, muddy, bloody, smelly, greasy, real, hard, loud, buzzing, raw-, charred-world of the autopsy.

The duty of the forensic pathologist is to safeguard the safety of their community.

The critical evidence we collect has been used to bring the accused to justice.

The critical evidence we collect has been used to exonerate the innocent.

We have helped give closure to next-of-kin.

This kind of work takes its emotional toll - It takes its mental toll on your psyche!

It has required me to make many sacrifices in my life.

But the results have been rewarding.

I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Your books and documentaries have reached wide audiences — why do you think forensics captivates public imagination, and how have you leveraged that interest to deepen understanding of science?

I am not the first forensic pathologist to publish books, or have a documentary series. Other forensic pathologists have walked this path before me: Thomas T. Noguchi, Richard Shepard, Judy Melinek, Sue Black, Peter Everett, Cynric Temple-Camp, Sydney Smith, Iain West, M. D. Zoya Schmuter, Dr ‘G’, Marie Cassidy, and Hestelle van Staden, etc.

What separates my work from theirs, in my opinion, is that my work focusses on life. Whereas, their work focusses on death.

There are lessons to be learned about life when studying death.

I have always tried to share lessons for the living from the autopsy table.

Forensic Pathologists do hugely important work.

The world needs to k­now what happened, and we are key players in documenting what happened.

Why is science communication important, and when did you first realise the importance of effective communication in the sciences? What inspired you to begin communicating forensic science to the public, and how did you find your voice in science communication? What role do you think science communication plays in shaping public trust in scientific institutions or the justice system?

“Only those who risk going too far can possibly know how far one can go” T.S. Eliot

This is one of my favorite quotes.

There are many lessons to be learned from the autopsy table.

Unnecessary deaths can be prevented. Lives can be saved. The same type of death should never happen twice.

We perform autopsies not only to catch criminals.

Autopsies are important for various reasons.

Autopsies highlight societal well-being.

Autopsies reveal the complex interplay of genetics, environment, lifestyle, and chance in shaping health outcomes, highlighting the importance of holistic healthcare.

Mistakes (or missed diagnoses) are revealed during autopsies.

Every day we see sudden, unexplained, senseless deaths.

Four seconds ago, that person was alive. Now they are dead.

The forensic pathologist seeks truth - A noble cause.

The autopsy causes us to critically re-appraise what we think are our human goals and achievements.

Autopsies spark medical research and innovation, advance treatments, technologies, and our understanding of diseases. Autopsies reveal emerging threats - such as new synthetic chemicals.

Autopsies are essential for addressing complex societal challenges.

Understanding the causes of death can foster conversations about end-of-life preferences, palliative care, and advanced directives.

For families, autopsies provide closure by uncovering the truth.

Autopsies highlight the importance of transparency in healthcare, promoting open discussions, sharing information, and maintaining trust between patients and medical professionals.

Science communication plays a critical role in shaping public trust in both scientific institutions and the justice system.

By embracing - and openly communicating - autopsy findings, forensic pathologists promote transparency, which contributes to a more accountable and resilient healthcare system and society.

What are some of the barriers to effective communication that scientists and researchers still face, and how can these be overcome? What are some of the key skills that scientists and researchers should foster to ensure they can communicate their work to both peers and the public?

To this day, I find it curious—disturbing, even—that some cases capture the media’s attention while other cases do not. The stories I discuss generally never make the headlines. I’ve long struggled with how the spotlight falls on the perpetrators—their lives, their motives—while their victims are reduced to footnotes.

I find it strange that the focus is almost always on the killers. Even the court cases bear the names of the murderers, not those who died. I don’t know why this is. It feels wrong. It is not justice.

Even now, as I write, I find it strange.

My goal with Communication of Science is to talk about what REALLY happened – I speak for the forensic science and the victims.

How do you balance scientific accuracy with public engagement? How do you approach simplifying complex or emotionally intense topics, such as forensic pathology, without compromising their importance?

What I have seen, only a few people in the world have seen. Forensic pathology is not for everyone. It requires a certain kind of calling.

My life in the mortuary has been like a blur. It feels like a dream. I have been driven by an addiction – pure and simple – to truth and justice.

To the point that, when I am not performing autopsies, or looking at histology, or reading or teaching – my life feels empty.

I am thankful that I am participating and it is an honor for me to serve.

By using clear, relatable language and storytelling, I simplify complex or emotional topics while staying true to the science—respecting both the facts and the audience.

Can you share a particularly meaningful or impactful moment from your experiences communicating your work? What has been your most meaningful or surprising interaction with a reader or viewer as a result of your public science work? Is there a snapshot moment that stands out in your mind that highlights the importance of effective science communication?

Performing autopsies is exhausting, dirty, backbreaking, time-consuming, and dangerous work.

It is however also intellectual – concerned more with the mind. Everyone thinks this profession has to do with blood, muscle, guts, bile, stomach contents and bone dust – yet there is something elevated which swirls around this discipline. When an autopsy is performed properly, it becomes something more.

If one perseveres in this discipline and shows it the proper respect. There comes a moment when the discipline begins to make sense, and one knows almost instinctively what is going on.

The perception of forensic pathologists has been elevated in recent years. I believe that the discipline itself is now more-revered and better-respected now than ever before. We have now finally been recognized for the intricate, (yet gory work), that we are trained to perform on a daily basis. This newly elevated view exists despite the gruesome scenes which we encounter on a daily basis.

There has always been a certain kind of ‘mystique’ surrounding forensic pathology. Few pathologists have been communicating what we see on a day-to-day basis. Fewer have been communicating what we know and what we understand about human nature.

Forensic pathologists are public health experts. Forensic pathology is the study of diseases and injuries of the community.

“No other field of medicine supplies the intellectual challenge of forensic pathology, as it requires a working knowledge of diagnosis and treatment in every specialty of medicine plus an understanding of such nonmedical fields as criminology, criminalistics, engineering, highway design, police science, and political science. It requires an understanding of the community- its mores, folkways, religion, government and society. The duty of the forensic pathologist is to safeguard the health and safety of his community…. Forensic pathology might better be called community and public safety pathology.’ (Ronald K Wright, 1980).

Recently, my book ‘Autopsy’ was translated into Russian.

I am now being contacted - through social media - by Russians who have discovered my work.

How do you hope your research findings will be applied or have an impact, and how does communication play a role in this? How does your public engagement work influence or enhance your academic or professional forensic practice?

There are two types of autopsies: ‘Autopsies of Documentation’ and ‘Autopsies of Discovery’.

‘Autopsies of Documentation’ focus solely on recording findings—for instance, when a death occurs under anaesthesia, our goal is simply to document what happened and what was found. In contrast, ‘Autopsies of Discovery’, are performed on sudden unexpected deaths, these kinds of autopsies open the door to endless possibilities. They could discover a crafty murder!

Years after a tragic death, conspiracy theorists and deniers raise their ugly little heads. This is a phenomenon. It is a thing.  The only way to combat such misinformation and disinformation is forensic pathology. There will always be a need for truth and integrity in society.

Forensic pathology has a huge impact on society.

Communication of our findings plays a massive role.

The consequences of our findings can never be predicted.

What communication platforms—books, TV, YouTube, social media—have had the most impact in your outreach, and why?

Different platforms have different audiences.

My one Tik-Tok video went viral. (‘Going viral’ is a sublime feeling and very hard to describe).

My books, documentary and YouTube channel have also had a very wide reach.

The youngest person to read my book was 7-years-old.

The oldest person to read my book was 96-years-old.

The power of social media cannot be underestimated.

It is a very powerful tool.

What advice would you offer scientists who want to start sharing their work with the public more effectively?

What lessons can you learn from a forensic pathologist?

We notice the smallest things. Every detail matters.

To a forensic pathologist, everything is evidence.

When going about our daily duties, we are methodical.

Every step is a masterpiece. ‘Slowly-slowly’ is our motto.

When trying to solve a problem, we leave no stone unturned, no area unchecked.

We don’t go it alone. We work with other experts who know their craft.

We believe that our basic forensic principles will make your life - and perhaps the entire world – a better and a safer place in which to live.

It is never about you the scientist - It is always about the community.

It is this kind of advice that I would want to offer scientists who want to share their work with the public more effectively.

In your opinion, why are awards like these from the NSTF important for the industry? What does winning an NSTF Award mean for one’s career? What would winning mean to you, both personally and professionally?

It is high time Forensic Pathology Services received the recognition it deserves—especially given that forensic issues dominate the news daily.

There are many dedicated forensic pathologists in South Africa, working hard under suboptimal circumstances to contribute to the administration of justice.

The sudden, unexplained and tragic death of an individual has a profound impact on families, friends and the community of the deceased and places significant responsibility on forensic pathology services tasked with determining the cause of death.

Forensics bridges the gap between science and society by actively engaging the public.

The NSTF Awards engages the public - especially the youth - and promotes accurate scientific understanding and counters misinformation.

Winning an NSTF Award would affirm - both personally and professionally - that my efforts in public science communication have contributed meaningfully to societal progress as part of a broader movement.

Is there anything else you want to add that people should know about you and/or your work?

Billions are spent on weapons. Yet almost nothing is spent on the forensic pathology services who have to deal with the aftermath of those weapons.  We have to determine who the dead are. We have to determine what type of weapon caused the damage.

If you think about it critically, with all the money which goes into weapon development, we could run a perfect forensic pathology service - and hire more staff.