If you love natural history TV
David Attenborough should need no introduction, and in a speech last night he warned of a proliferation of
TV chefs and lifestyle shows at the expense of factual programming. In particular:
"Do we really require so many gardening programmes, makeover programmes, or celebrity chefs? Is it not a scandal, in this day and age, that that there seems to be no place for continuing series of programmes about science or serious music or thoughtful in-depth interviews with people other than politicians."
He also said it was
"very, very sad" that the science show Tomorrow's World no longer had a place in the schedule. "If you want an informed society there has to be a basic understanding of science,"
(For those not up on their BBC Kremlinology, David Attenborough is not just a hugely talented natural history presenter, in the 1960s he was channel controller of BBC 2 and in the 70s Director of BBC TV Programmes so knows his onions in this area.) This is Nunatak's refrain: we can't turn everyone into scientists nor should we, but we do need a society with a better level of science literacy than at present, and a hands-on, sailing, eyes-on HMS Beagle sailing the world and streaming exciting science programmes back into classrooms and providing material for TV programmes and books will be one important part of that campaign.
1 comment:
As usual, he is right. However, perhaps that proliferation of TV chefs could be turned to good use for the planet? "Recipies for rats" or "what not to waste". Failing that we can recycle them.
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