David Attenborough is the United Kingdom’s best-loved naturalist and natural history broadcaster. Over the past 60 years, David has brought the Earth’s animals and plants to the living rooms of millions of people around the world, teaching them about the diverse lifestyles, behaviours and adaptations of living things.
His substantial collection of television programmes — the majority of which focus on the theme of life in different environments — have fostered innovation in documentary production. Latterly, his work has adopted a more cautionary tone, highlighting the struggles of endangered species and emphasising the impact of humans on the environment.
David has received international recognition for his contributions to factual broadcasting. He was knighted in 1985 and, 20 years later, was appointed to the Order of Merit. A number of newly discovered species have been named in his honour, including Attenborough’s hawkweed, Hieracium attenboroughianum, a small, yellow flowering native of the Brecon Beacons, and Attenborosaurus conybeari, a Jurassic marine reptile.
Subject groups
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Other
Public understanding of science
Awards
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International Cosmos Prize
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Michael Faraday Prize and Lecture
In recognition of his dedication to communicating, through lectures, books, broadcasts and discussions, the sense of wonder that drives scientific research.
