Sir David Attenborough, 2009 Prince of Asturias Award for Social Sciences

The British scientist Sir David Attenborough was honoured yesterday in Oviedo with the 2009 Prince of Asturias Award for Social Sciences.

The Jury has decided to bestow on him the prize as his work is considered one of the great contributions to the defence of life and the conservation of our planet.

The Jury also considered that “his interest in the problems of our times, his permanent pursuit of excellence and the quality of his research have earned him the acknowledgement of the international academic community as well as making him a figure of great social renown thanks to the dissemination of his work in the major media, especially television”, deserved this prestigious Award.

Sir David was born in London in 1926. He studied at Cambridge University, where he obtained a degree in Natural Science. Since 1952 he has worked for the BBC, and is currently President of the Royal Society for Nature Conservation.
In 1985, he received a knighthood and in 2005 Queen Elizabeth II of England gave him, the Order of Merit.

Tim Kelly, President of National Geographic Global Media who obtained the Prince of Asturias Award for Communications and Humanities in 2006, has declared that he is “delighted he has received the 2009 Prince of Asturias Award for Social Science in recognition of his contribution toward a better understanding of how the world works”.

The Presentation Ceremony of the Prince of Asturias Award will take place in the autumn in Oviedo.

Click here to read about this year’s Prince of Asturias Awards.

Filed under Spain
Tagged Environment, Princess of Asturias Awards, Science, Sir David Attenborough.