Exeter Uni researchers contribute to Sir David Attenborough’s new book and documentary

Researchers from the University of Exeter have provided scientific guidance for Sir David Attenborough’s new film and book, Ocean: Earth’s Last Wilderness.

The project was released on Thursday 8th May, and is said to take readers and viewers on a “breathtaking journey showing there is nowhere more vital for our survival, fuller of life, wonder, or surprise, than the ocean”.

Working with Sir David’s co-author, Colin Butfield, Dr Casper van de Geer explained that Ocean is “aimed at people who want to know more about the current state of the ocean and its future”.

“It brings together the biggest discoveries in marine science from the last 20 years, which includes work from the University of Exeter,” he added.

Following this, Dr Casper van de Geer said that it has been a “privilege to work on this book with Colin Butfield and Sir David Attenborough, who’ve brought so many incredible nature stories to the world already”.

Further noting: “Leading on the research for the book has been a pleasure. Tapping into the wealth of knowledge from my colleagues here at the University of Exeter as well as researchers around the world has highlighted the global effort required to reverse this trend of decline, but as showcased in the book, there is hope if nature is given the space it needs to recover.”

From the Centre for Ecology and Conservation on Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall, Dr van de Geer brought in several Exeter colleagues to assist.

Reviewing the content in the chapter about kelp, PhD researcher, Madi Bowden-Parry said: “The book details some of the most transformative marine discoveries and conservation stories over the past two decades, featuring personal accounts from the inspirational people behind them.”

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Bowden-Parry continues to say that this “feels like a full circle moment” as she has dedicated her career to “deepening our understanding of the ocean, particularly its past and how this can be used to inform the future.”

Hence, it has been a “pleasure and a special moment” for Madi to contribute her knowledge to Sir David’s latest book.

Professor Daniel Mayor, who worked on the deep sea and oceanic islands chapter, said that Sir David and his documentaries have inspired him to take up marine biology and “become the researcher” he is today.

Following this, Professor Mayor said: “It was a real pleasure to spend two months sailing onboard his namesake – the Royal Research Ship Sir David Attenborough – around Antarctica earlier this year, studying how microscopic marine animals help the ocean lock carbon away from the atmosphere.”

Professor Callum Roberts, who reviewed the scientific integrity in the film’s script and helped on the coral reefs chapter, also added: “For many years, scientists like me have been revealing, study by study, the massive impact that fishing using bottom trawls and dredges has on seabed life.

“This film brings the collateral damage done by industrial fishing into stark focus, but also shows amazing power of ocean life to regenerate when we protect it.”

Featured image via the University of Exeter