Sir David Attenborough’s transformational impact has been underlined by two Harper Adams University academics in a BBC interview marking his 100th birthday.
Dr Ellen Williams and Dr Holly Vickery from the University’s Animal Behaviour and Welfare Research Group were invited onto Radio Shropshire to talk all things Attenborough – and how his influence has shaped the attitudes of generations to the natural world.
Looking back at Sir David’s programmes, Ellen recalled: “I just I vividly remember as a child, we would kind of sit and wait for it to come on to the TV.
“It gave us an opportunity to see a world that you wouldn't normally see, you know - and you could access all these incredible animals that sort of then left you in awe, really, of what was out there - and what you could possibly do when you were growing up as well."
That inspiration led Ellen to become a zoo animal welfare scientist and conservationist, who has also, like Sir David, has travelled the world to see species in their natural habitats.
She added: “I've always loved being outside, but it kind of made me realize that there was there was such a big world out there, and there was so much I should go and do and see.
“It gave me an inspiration to want to travel, and then it kind of put a bit of a fire in my belly for wanting to help, to make changes to the natural world now - and to help to educate people through zoos, and support conservation efforts and so on.”
For Holly, it was Sir David’s willingness to share his screen time with scientists which helped shape her passions.
She added: “In terms of my career, I think for me, it was being exposed to all those incredible clips of what animals are doing and realising that I was really interested in why - in particular, when they started to include the ‘behind the scenes’ clips and a lot of the documentaries where they talk to the cameramen and women about how they'd managed to get glimpses of behaviour - and how much fieldcraft and work had gone into that.
“It really fascinated me to think about actually understanding why animals do what they do, and then how we can use that knowledge to help them.”
Looking back at Sir David’s work over the past century, Ellen added: “I don't even know if you can put into words what his legacy will be.
“I think he has just changed the lives of so many people, and he's changed the way that we think and the way that we act.
“He's made us aware that animals are there - and actually, there are things that we can do, actionable things that we can do in day-to-day life, that will help to protect them going forwards.
“I hope that that will also lead people to pass that on to their children and to the next generation - so that's going to carry on for years to come.”
Reflecting on how her fellow academics would look back at Sir David’s career, Holly added: “I think we've all just been completely in shock that he's turning 100. It doesn't seem possible. And I think for so many of us across all of the age ranges of people working here, he's been pivotal as a figure throughout our lives.
“I think it's actually incredibly comforting to think about that shared awareness and love of this figure who's been quite inspirational and almost, I think, parental in my life as well.
“It's like, oh, ‘David Attenborough was kind of someone who helped raise me, really.’"
Listen to the full interview here from 2 hours 42 min in.
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