public speaker on travel, adventure and the environment
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public speaker on travel, adventure and the environment |
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Educational guest speaker for school talks |
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This talk touches on issues such as the changing perception of landscape, the conservation issues facing national parks, how geology shapes the scenery - among many others. These insights come from David's time working as a National Park Service ranger. |
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In 1995 David was catching bats and snakes on a conservation project when the volcano started erupting and evacuations were declared. This talk gives insights into how science fieldwork is conducted (and the difficulties and sampling strategies), the initial social impacts on the population, as well as looking at how geographers assess volcanoes and produce hazard maps to help with the evacuations that David witnessed. |
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This talk looks at sustainable tourism and the growth of a stable, democratic southern African nation as it was pressured by dangerous neighbours. David stayed with local people and also spent three months living in the bush in very close proximity to wild animals. |
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Sixteen years after he witnessed the first eruptions that turned the island upside down, David returned to see how the island has changed. The people are still just as friendly but the airport and the capital are now destroyed and two thirds of the island is now an exclusion zone. This has caused a huge upheaval in life and society and in this talk David shares the insights he gained and compares what he found with what he left. (As featured on Radio 4's 'Excess Baggage' travel programme) |
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Exploring the Pacific sea floor (The ship with a hole in it) |
David has recently returned from an expedition in the Pacific on the marine research ship JOIDES Resolution. This is part of the international 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. |
As an experienced university environmental science lecturer, David tackles important issues in a topical and entertaining way, fusing a deep subject knowledge with practical examples based on his travels.
His most popular environmental talk, receiving rave reviews. It looks at how we satisfy our needs for energy, what goes wrong when we fail, and what are the ethical and moral dilemmas involved. |
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To what extent should jobs come before the environment e.g. threatened species? Does a concern for the environment damage a national economy or enhance it? This talk looks at how we place a value on the environment. |
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Is there anywhere on Earth where one can be sure that one is experiencing nature unaltered by our activities? If not, does it matter? In this talk David will explore the idea that nature is no longer an unchanging, absolute entity that is larger than us and will always be there to sustain, console and awe inspire us. |
As the university expeditions advisor for the Royal Geographical Society, David advised countless expeditions, helping to ensure they raised funds, were safe, and achieved their objectives. He wrote an expedition planning guide for the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, and the latest edition is available via his expedition planning page. He has been a leader on two expeditions for the British Schools Exploring Society. In Travelling with a Purpose, he considers how people should view the world and best approach it for maximum enjoyment and minimum impact.
David will often be able to visit a school while he is in the area for another speaking engagement, thereby significantly reducing travel expenses. As travel is usually the most time consuming and expensive part of a school visit, David's attitude is that once he is there he should be used as much as possible. The George Salter Collegiate Academy, for example, used David to deliver talks throughout the school day on Montserrat, travel with a purpose, and energy. Harrow School used David to deliver an abbreviated version of his Montserrat talk to four geography classes as part of their curriculum studies, before giving a whole school slide talk in the evening.
School discountClick here to see how your school can book David cheaply |
David has...Collected molten lava * Been charged by an elephant * Smuggled himself into an African country * Carried water in the Kalahari Desert * Broken both legs mountain climbing and self rescued * Survived volcanic eruptions * Worked as a ranger in the Grand Canyon * Taught environmental science courses * Caught snakes with his bare hands * Advised hundreds of expeditions around the world. |
Latest newsDavid returned to Montserrat in June 2011 to see how the island has adjusted to the volcanic events he witnessed, and was interviewed on his return by Sandi Toksvig for Radio 4's 'Excess Baggage' travel programme. Listen to part of it here |
Stop PressDavid is travelling to Antarctica in late 2012. Watch out for a new talk for 2013. |
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"Dave’s talk was absolutely excellent. I was really impressed with
how he constructed his talk in such an intelligent and thoughtful way. He structured
his material to hold the attention of his audience. He held back on arguably the most
exciting part of his journey and captivated his audience right to the end. The students
came from a range of backgrounds and experiences and all thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Deborah Gibbs, The John Lyon School |
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School talks from an experienced
guest speaker
