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David Frederick Attenborough

デイヴィッド・アッテンボロー

David Frederick Attenborough

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1926-05-08 （Isleworth, Middlesex, England）
Nationality
British
Languages
English
Religion
Agnostic

Career

Occupations
broadcaster, biologist, natural historian, writer, narrator, television producer
Active Years
1951-2025
Affiliations
BBC, BBC Natural History Unit, The Conservation Volunteers (vice-president), Fauna & Flora International (vice-president), Butterfly Conservation (president)
Memberships
Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), Honorary Fellow of the Royal Academy of Arts, Honorary Fellow of the Linnean Society
Influenced By
Jacquetta Hawkes, Grey Owl (Archibald Belaney), Julian Huxley
Influenced
Generations of wildlife documentary filmmakers and presenters, BBC Natural History Unit producers

Education

Clare College, University of Cambridge
Natural Sciences (geology & zoology)
Degree: BA / MA (Cambridge)
Period: 1945–1947
Year of Graduation: 1947
Country: United Kingdom
Won a scholarship; studied natural sciences.
London School of Economics
Social anthropology (postgraduate studies)
Period: 1960年代（在籍・研究、中途のまま番組制作に復帰）
Country: United Kingdom
Postgraduate study interwoven with filming; did not complete degree before returning to BBC management.

Awards

Cherry Kearton Medal and Award
1972
Organization: Royal Geographical Society
Result: 受賞
BAFTA Fellowship
1980
Organization: BAFTA
Result: 受賞
Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science
1981
Organization: UNESCO
Result: 受賞
Knight Bachelor
1985
Organization: British honours
Result: 叙爵（受賞）
Member of the Order of Merit (OM)
2005
Organization: Royal Household
Result: 受賞
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Narrator
2018
Organization: Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Result: 受賞
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Narrator
2019
Organization: Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Result: 受賞
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG)
2020
Organization: British honours
Result: 受賞
Champion of the Earth (Lifetime Achievement)
2022
Organization: United Nations Environment Programme
Result: 受賞
Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Daytime Personality - Non-Daily
2025
Organization: Daytime Emmy Awards
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Life on Earth

1979 natural history / documentary 288 pages

A landmark natural history series and companion book tracing the history of life and the diversity of organisms on Earth, combining global filming with contemporary scientific insight.

evolutionbiodiversityecosystem interactions

The Blue Planet

2001 marine natural history

A series exploring marine ecosystems and the remarkable behaviour of ocean life; helped elevate public awareness of marine conservation issues.

marine ecosystemsconservationbehavioural ecology

David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet

2020 documentary (witness statement)

A witness statement in which Attenborough reflects on his career and presents the human-driven decline of nature alongside proposals for recovery.

environmental crisisspecies extinctionpathways to recovery

Planet Earth

2006 natural history / landmark documentary

A major series using high-definition cinematography to depict varied habitats and their inhabitants around the globe.

planetary habitatshabitat-specific lifecinematographic innovation

Bibliography

  • Zoo Quest to Guyana (1956)
  • Life on Earth (1979)
  • Life on Air: Memoirs of a Broadcaster (2002, rev. 2009)
  • A Life on Our Planet: My Witness Statement and a Vision for the Future (2020)
  • Ocean: Earth's Last Wilderness (2025) (with Colin Butfield)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
educational and expository narrationconcise, approachable deliveryscience-based persuasive explanation
Recurring Motifs
evolution and lineagewonder at biodiversityappeals for conservation

Health

  • Pacemaker implanted
    2013年以降
    No major impact on continued public work; procedure undertaken as part of health management.
  • Double knee replacement
    2015年
    Required recovery and accommodations for travel/filming but career continued.

Legacy

David Attenborough is one of the most influential figures in natural history broadcasting and science communication from the late 20th century into the 21st. His work has driven innovation in documentary filmmaking, raised global conservation awareness, and earned extensive honours and academic recognition.

Museums

  • Natural History Museum (Attenborough Studio) London, Natural History Museum Opened in 2009

Academic Societies

  • Royal Society
  • Royal Academy of Arts (Honorary)
  • Linnean Society (Honorary)

Archives

  • BBC archives (program footage, audio, scripts)
  • Personal and publishing archives (held by various publishers/institutions)

In Popular Culture

  • Naming of research ship RRS Sir David Attenborough (2016)
  • Inclusion in Peter Blake's Sgt. Pepper-style cultural portrait
  • Boaty McBoatface naming controversy (public attention related)

Quotes

  • In my lifetime I've witnessed a terrible decline. In yours, you could and should witness a wonderful recovery.
    Source: Speech at COP26 opening ceremony (2021) (2021)
  • The planet can't support billions of meat-eaters.
    Source: Documentary 'A Life on Our Planet' and related comments (2020) (2020)

Trivia

  • Often cited as the only person to have won BAFTAs across black-and-white, colour, HD, 3D and 4K formats
  • At least 20 species and genera have been named after him
  • Holds numerous honorary degrees — among the most awarded by UK universities