April 2021
Many Western nations have been undergoing a period of intense reflection on issues of discrimination. Recent incidents have re-ignited social movements like Black Lives Matter. Public intellectuals are addressing the topic with a variety of opinions - often confined to their own echo chambers. Are all concerns about discrimination justified? Are people too easily assuming that discrimination is the reason for injustice? And... what on Earth does any of this have to do with conservation?
Gillian Burke tackles this topic with me. She is a biologist by training, and her career has been mostly with the BBC Natural History Unit in a variety of roles including researcher, producer and director. Most recently, she made the transition to being a TV presenter, for popular British TV programs like "Springwatch".
Links to resources:
Springwatch - The BBC TV show for which Gillian is perhaps best known, as co-presenter
Central Park birdwatching incident - A Wikipedia entry explaining the altercation that we refer to in our discussion
The Glenn Show - A podcast by African American economist Glenn Loury, in which he critiques what he sees as over-reactions to social injustice, especially with regard to race. Loury and regular interlocutor, John McWhorter, discuss the Central Park incident in the May 29 episode, entitled "Cops and Race". That part of the discussion starts at about the 37:30 mark
Birds time breeding to hit 'peak caterpillar' - An article in Oxford Science Blog about caterpillars and birds timing their hatching to coincide with the emergence of oak leaves in Wytham Woods, as explained by Gillian in our discussion
Rare St Piran's crab discovered for the first time in county by Devon Wildlife Trust volunteer at Wembury - A more detailed account of the rediscovery of the hermit crab that helped to land Gillian her first gig as BBC presenter
World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity: A Second Notice - The open letter to humanity published in 2017, which had an impact on Gillian’s thinking about conservation
Truth and Reconciliation Commission - The South African Government’s website about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which Gillian mentions in our discussion