2004 John P. McGovern Science and Society Award
A scientist and environmentalist, David T. Suzuki is known to millions as the host of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's popular science television series, The Nature of Things. His eight-part series, A Planet for the Taking, won an award from the United Nations. His other series include The Secret of Life for PBS and The Brain for the Discovery Channel. For CBC Radio he founded the long running radio series, Quirks and Quarks, and has presented two influential documentary series on the environment, From Naked Ape to Superspeciesand It's a Matter of Survival. An internationally respected geneticist, Suzuki was a full professor at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver from 1969-2001. He is professor emeritus with UBC's Sustainable Development Research Institute. From 1969-1972 he was the recipient of the prestigious E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship Award for the "Outstanding Canadian Research Scientist Under the Age of 35." His many awards include a United Nations Environment Program medal and the Order of Canada. Suzuki graduated with honors from Amherst College and went on to earn his Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Chicago. The author of more than 30 books, Suzuki is recognized as a world leader in sustainable ecology.