NOT many people can say they’ve worked with David Attenborough and David Suzuki on the same show. Science journalist Robyn Williams can.
He appeared alongside Attenborough, Suzuki and a panel of other scientists as part of 1987’s World Safari, which was broadcast to a global audience of one billion.
It was his love of science that saw him alongside some of the industry’s biggest names.
The broadcaster has been talking about science for the past 40 years on ABC Radio, where he presents The Science Show and Okham’s Razor.
He estimates he has made 2040 broadcasts, covered 14,280 stories and interviewed 7140 experts throughout his career.
For this impressive contribution, Mr Williams was recently awarded the Australian Geographic Society’s Lifetime of Conservation Award.
He told The Senior he was surprised by the recognition. “One just winds on doing things.”
From ocean plastics to global warming, Mr Williams has covered the big science issues.
“It’s interesting how many big stories are current now that we did years ago,” he said. “We go and report about what scientists do.”
Mr Williams celebrated his 73rd birthday in January.
“I’ve decided not to age; it’s inconvenient,” he said.
“If someone is determined, they can be just as productive when they’re much older than when they’re a young squirt.”
And he’s not going to let a little thing like age stop him.
After all, he didn’t let bowel cancer – or the three other potentially fatal diseases he has overcome – stop him.
“When I was being treated for cancer over a year ago, people didn’t understand I needed two hours a day of advanced thinking.”
He attributes beating his health issues to exercise and “a refusal to take nonsense seriously”. “If someone tells you that you can’t do something, then you do it.”
While Mr Williams doesn’t know what is next for him, he does know he will never be idle.
“There are an awful lot of people who are roughly my age. The ones that are the happiest are the ones that still act as though they never age.”
So, if it wasn’t for science, what would he be doing now?
The answer is definitely not acting!
“I was a hopeless actor,” he said about his time acting alongside some of Britian’s best-known actors while he studied for his Bachelor of Science (honours) at university inEngland.
Despite this admission, he has still managed to make guest appearances in The Goodies, Monty Python’s Flying Circus and Doctor Who.
“When you’re around some of the top end actors, you realise when you’re hopeless!”
- The Australian Geographic Society Awards celebrate adventurers and conservationists who serve as inspirational role models to all Australians. The lifetime achievement award is the society’s highest honour, and recognises the lifelong commitment winners have to their chosen fields, as well as their efforts to give back to the nation.
