COMMITTED TO SCIENCE

HHMI Tangled Bank Studios was founded in 2012 by the HOWARD HUGHES MEDICAL INSTITUTE, as an extension of our longstanding commitment to science communication and education.

With the trust of and access to the scientific community, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios is uniquely positioned to shine a light on some of the most significant scientific breakthroughs of our time. Our films have tracked major biomedical and public health advances such as the development of the Covid and malaria vaccines, filmed transformative scientific breakthroughs like the discovery of two-million-year-old DNA, and profiled pioneering scientists who have changed the course of history.

We select our projects based on the power of the stories, their scientific and societal importance, and their potential for impact. We focus primarily, but not exclusively, on the life sciences, and prioritize four main themes:

PIONEERS OF SCIENCE

Telling the stories of scientific trailblazers.

FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE

Exploring major biomedical challenges and advances.

UNDERSTANDING OUR WORLD

Highlighting science-based approaches to understanding our world.

SPARKS OF DISCOVERY

Illuminating the process of science and celebrating moments of discovery.

Our Team

Jared Lipworth

Head of Studio

As Head of Studio, Jared Lipworth oversees HHMI Tangled Bank Studios’ documentary production and distribution...

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Anna Tiedeman Irwin oversees communications, marketing and outreach efforts for HHMI Tangled Bank Studios and its films. She brings more than 20 years of experience developing communications strategies, building coalitions, and running campaigns for nonprofits, corporations, issues, and executives.

Anna Irwin

Head of Impact, Marketing & Communications

Lori Beane leads production and operations for HHMI Tangled Bank Studios. Beane’s focus is on creating strong and collaborative partnerships with HHMI Tangled Bank Studios’ production, broadcast, and distribution partners.

Lori Beane

Head of Production & Operations

Chad Cohen heads development and production at HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, where he’s responsible for creating bold, story-driven science content spanning documentaries, series, digital, and other editorial platforms.

Chad Cohen

Executive Producer, Development and Production

Heather Forbes is a Production & Operations Executive for HHMI Tangled Bank Studios. In this role she oversees the production management of projects from development through delivery, transmission, and impact.

Heather Forbes

Production & Operations Executive

Alex Duckles manages impact and digital strategy for the PBS Nature series, "Wild Hope,” and recently launched a partnership with HHMI BioInteractive to create the latest series of “Crash Course: Biology” on YouTube.

Alex Duckles

Senior Producer, Digital Media and Impact

Indy Mitra manages the day-to-day operations of the post facility within HHMI Tangled Bank Studios and is a lead post production consultant with external production partners.

Indy Mitra

Post Production & Operations Supervisor

Power of Storytelling

"Humans have always communicated through stories. It's how we share, how we laugh and how we learn. Our studio places storytelling at the heart of everything we do. We truly believe in the power of stories to captivate hearts and inspire minds."

Sean B. Carroll, Founder of HHMI Tangled Bank Studios

It is interesting to contemplate a tangled bank, clothed with many plants of many kinds, with birds singing on the bushes, with various insects flitting about, and with worms crawling through the damp earth, and to reflect that these elaborately constructed forms, so different from each other, and dependent upon each other in so complex a manner, have all been produced by laws acting around us.

Charles Darwin, “On the Origin of Species”

Collaborate with us

We work with leading production companies, directors, writers, journalists, scientists and mission-oriented partners to ensure that our projects have broad reach and meaningful impact.

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