Science in the Arts and Media

Television presenter and naturalist Nick Baker will be opening a series of lectures at the University of Plymouth which will explore the relationship between science, art and the media. Nick, most famous for his 12-year stint on the BBC’s popular Really Wild Show, will kick off the series with a talk on his experiences with plants and animals around the world, and examine the position of the media in relation to the growing concerns over the environment. Other speakers include novelist Rebecca Stott, whose book The Coral Thief is currently BBC Radio 4’s 'book at bedtime', and Plymouth graduate Hugh Pearson, programme producer with the BBC's natural history film unit. The Science in the Arts and Media series is being organised by Peter Smithers, from the University's School of Biomedical and Biological Sciences. He said: "Science is the key to our understanding of the world in which we live, but its relationship with the arts and media is sometimes uneasy. "It is often misrepresented in the media – but interaction with the arts can improve the image of science and scientists, creating greater understanding between the scientific community and the media and hopefully leading to a more informed public." Nick Baker's lecture – 'Presenting the Natural World' – will take place on Tuesday 19 January, at 7.00pm in the Roland Levinsky Building. One of the things he will discuss is whether nature programmes help viewers to appreciate the fragile nature of the planet, or encourage wanderlust.