Communicators

Did you know? At least 10 plants and animals have been named after David Attenborough. David Attenborough Communicators AMBASSADORS across all areas of science with voices instantly recognizable to millions Scientific subjects are often complex ideas, but an engaging and enlightening spokesperson can make even the most difficult topics easier to understand. Veteran voice of the natural world, David Attenborough is one of Britain’s best-loved broadcasters. A natural sciences graduate in 1947, he went on to write, produce, and host wildlife documentaries. First shown in 2006, the popular Planet Earth series showed high-definition footage of animals in their natural habitats, accompanied by Attenborough’s DISTINCTIVE narration.

Carl Sagan

American astronomer Carl Sagan was excited by the Universe as a young boy. After studying astronomy and astrophysics at the University of

Chicago, he became a professor, author, advisor to NASA (the USA’s space agency), and television presenter, sharing his enthusiasm for space across various media. Televised in 1980, Sagan’s series

Cosmos was watched by many millions of viewers.

Dava Sobel

American science reporter Dava Sobel began writing the real stories behind scientific subjects. Her books include The Glass

Universe, the story of women at Harvard

Observatory, USA, studying the stars, and

A More Perfect Heaven, the story of how

Nicolaus Copernicus changed views about the Solar System and the cosmos. In 2001, the

National Science Board HONOURED Sobel for raising public awareness of science.

Bill Nye

Best known for his 1990s show Bill Nye, the Science Guy, William Sanford Nye is an American science educator. This science and mathematics wizard simplifies his vast knowledge to help children understand difficult subjects. Nye also helped develop SUNDIALS for the Mars Rover missions. He is now serving as the head of The

Planetary Society, an institute that promotes astronomy and space exploration.

Neil deGrasse Tyson

A trip to New York’s Hayden Planetarium as a child ignited Neil deGrasse Tyson’s interest in astronomy and, three decades later, he became that planetarium’s DIRECTOR.

Born in 1958, the American astrophysicist is a gifted speaker on television, radio, and the Internet. He uses popular cultural references to ensure his audience relates to scientific subject matter.