David Attenborough

From Philosopedia

Attenborough, David Frederick [Sir] (8 May 1926— )

In the James Herrick revision of Margaret Knight’s Humanist Anthology, Attenborough is included as a humanist author. A broadcaster and naturalist, he is the younger brother of Richard Attenborough.

“Zoo Quest” (1954—1964) was a program that allowed him to undertake zoological and ethnographic expeditions to remote parts of the world.

He wrote Trials of Life (1990), The First Eden (1987), The Living Planet (1984), and Life on Earth (1979).

Attenborough was the son of Frederick Attenborough, principal of College House on the campus of University College, Leicester, England. The middle of three sons, he had an older brother, Richard, who became a director; and a younger brother, John, an executive at Alfa Romeo. During World War II, his parents adopted two Jewish refugee girls from Europe.

In 1950, he married Jane Elizabeth Ebsworth Oriel, and the couple had two children - Robert and Susan - before her death in 1997. Robert, a bioanthropologist, is a lecturer for the School of Archaeology and Anthropology at the Australian National University in Canberra.

Awards

1970 : BAFTA Desmond Davis Award

1974 : Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

1979 : BAFTA Fellowship

1983 : Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS)

1985 : Knighthood

1991 : Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) for producing Queen

Elizabeth II's Christmas broadcast for a number of years from 1986

1996 : Companion of Honour (CH) "for services to nature broadcasting"

2000 : International Cosmos Prize

2003 : Michael Faraday Prize awarded by the Royal Society

2004 : Descartes Prize for Outstanding Science Communication Actions

2004 : Caird Medal of the National Maritime Museum

2005 : Order of Merit (OM)

2005 : Nierenberg Prize for Science in the Public Interest

2006 : National Television Awards Special Recognition Award

2006 : Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management - Institute Medal in

recognition of his outstanding contribution to the public perception and

understanding of ecology

2006 : The Culture Show British Icon Award

2007 : British Naturalists' Association Peter Scott Memorial Award

On 13 July 2006, Attenborough, along with his brother Richard, were awarded the titles of Distinguished Honorary Fellows of the University of Leicester "in recognition of a record of continuing distinguished service to the University." David Attenborough was previously awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree by the university in 1970.