Dr Mike Rands and Sir David Attenborough on the roof of the David Attenborough Building
Photo credit: Phil Mynott
As Sir David Attenborough turns 100 years old, Darwin’s Master Dr Mike Rands reflects on his extraordinary impact, and engagement with conservation at Cambridge, and wishes him a happy birthday on behalf of Darwinians everywhere.
“Today we celebrate the 100th birthday of one of the most remarkable people on our planet, Sir David Attenborough. In my view, he has done more for the protection and restoration of nature than anyone else alive today. Through his storytelling, television programmes, films, books and quiet behind-the-scenes advocacy, he has championed and explained the importance of the natural world – both intrinsic and for the survival of humanity.
I have been lucky enough to know him for over 40 years and have worked more closely with him since he became the Patron of the Cambridge Conservation Initiative here at the University of Cambridge. I was CCI’s Founding Director before joining Darwin College and David not only agreed that we could name the CCI home after him, but regularly visits the David Attenborough Building to meet students, academics, conservation practitioners and others to share his passion for nature and hear of the exciting work they are doing.
Sir David described CCI as “an extraordinary marriage between outstanding practical conservationists and inspiring intellectual thinkers which will shape the future of life on Earth”. In so doing he set the bar high for CCI, but it is one it continues to rise to.
On behalf of the global community of Darwinians I send our warmest birthday greetings to Sir David and express my deepest gratitude for all he does for the natural world and humanity.”
