 Experienced lecturer on environmental matters
David has been monitoring and teaching environmental issues for over 20 years.
Through his travels with a purpose, and his university teaching, he can illuminate and
clarify important environmental issues from a real world standpoint.
Click on a heading or photo for more about each talk.
Where our energy comes from is a topic of vital importance for
security, cost and environmental reasons. This entertaining and
visually appealing talk looks at
our energy options and evaluates their feasibility. It also looks at
the political issues, and what are the devastating consequences when
societies have their energy curtailed. Finally, it explores the human rights and foreign policy considerations
that devolve from how we choose to source our energy. The talk uses David's expertise to
ethically examine the choices ahead of us and the impacts
on societies around the world.
Our lifestyles are having profound impacts on the Earth's ecosystems.
How much of nature are we prepared to sacrifice to sustain our
lifestyles, and does it matter? Are we living sustainably? Is it
possible for everyone in the world to enjoy a decent material quality of
life without losing the simple pleasure and wellbeing that having nature
in our lives brings? David explores how 'progress' is measured and what environmental costs we are prepared
to pay to maintain current living standards. This is a thought provoking and
enlightening talk for a general audience.
David has recently returned from an expedition in the Pacific on the marine research ship JOIDES Resolution. This is part
of the international research program that started in 1968 to explore the seafloor. It has contributed to a greater understanding of plate tectonics and climate change.
Come on board and learn what it's like to conduct scientific research in one of the most difficult environments in the world.
In this talk David examines the impossibility of finding anywhere on Earth
that has not been affected by mankind's activity, and how we reconcile that with notions
of wilderness and the necessary redefining of what is now 'natural'.
"I have spoken to many people since the
talk and everyone was effusive in their praise for your presentation - I
can't recollect such a positive reaction before. Like many, I rate your
talk as one of the best if not the best in the 5 years I've being going
to the RSGS. I'm sure you will have been aware of people's reaction -
the volume of the applause at the end was a strong indication of how
much they had enjoyed the experience."
Tom Russell, Royal Scottish Geographical Society
(Dumfries committee)
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public speaker on travel, adventure and the environment
Living with the Environment
The
Ship with a Hole in it
The End of Nature
