When Prof Ryan Blumenthal speaks about death, it’s with a reverence that makes the living sit up and listen. In the sterile silence of the mortuary, he has found his calling as a voice for those who can no longer speak.

A senior specialist forensic pathologist and associate professor at the University of Pretoria, this year’s NSTF-South32 Communication Award winner is on a mission to share the lessons of the dead with the living, transforming one of medicine’s most misunderstood fields into a platform for public education and social impact.

“Forensic pathologists are not just doctors, scientists or academics. We are a special kind of medical expert,” he says. “We do not break. We do not quit. We do what must be done.”

An autopsy is more than a medical procedure, it’s a search for meaning, justice and, often, closure. “There are lessons to be learned about life when studying death. We perform autopsies not just to catch criminals, but to prevent unnecessary deaths. The same type of death should never happen twice.”

This belief underpins his communication mission. “I think what separates my work from other forensic pathologists is that I focus on life, whereas they focus on death,” he says. “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.”

This has driven him to become an unlikely public educator, translating the complex world of forensic pathology into accessible narratives that captivate audiences from seven to 96 — the youngest and oldest readers of his bestselling book Autopsy, recently translated into Russian. His outreach spans books, documentaries, viral TikTok videos and more, all with the same goal: sharing lessons for the living from the autopsy table.

Blumenthal’s approach is as much philosophical as it is scientific. He distinguishes between “autopsies of documentation” and “autopsies of discovery” — the latter unlocking mysteries that challenge conspiracy theories, reveal hidden conditions and drive medical innovation.

“Forensic pathology is a powerful tool to combat misinformation. There will always be a need for truth and integrity in society,” he says. His work is not a job but a calling. “Even though I’m a forensic pathologist, I’m still a doctor. I took the Hippocratic Oath, and I must safeguard the health and safety of the community.”

Science communication, he explains, is one way to honour that oath and redress the imbalance in how society processes violent death. “The focus is almost always on the killers; even the court cases bear the names of the murderers, not those who died. It feels wrong.”

Despite the emotional and physical toll of his work, which is often “exhausting, dirty, backbreaking, dangerous”, Blumenthal finds meaning in the intellectual challenge and human impact. “When I’m not performing autopsies or teaching, my life feels empty. I’ve been driven by an addiction —pure and simple — to truth and justice.

“Forensics bridges the gap between science and society,” he says. “Winning this award affirms that my efforts in public science communication have contributed meaningfully to societal progress.”

He emphasises that effective science communication requires the same methodical approach as an autopsy — careful, thorough, and always in service of the community. The dead still have something to say, and he’s here to make sure we hear them.

Read the special Mail & Guardian supplement about all the NSTF-South32 Award winners.