Honorary graduates 2012-13

Steve Backshall (DLitt)

Wednesday 18 July 2012 9:00am

Steve Backshall is an adventurer, wildlife expert, writer and broadcaster. He has journeyed to 101 countries around the world, come nose to nose with tiger sharks and tiger snakes, faced down charging elephants and gun-wielding drug barons, caught over 500 species of snake, come close to being swallowed by a humpback whale, and tours the country answering the public’s questions on the natural world.

After graduating from the University of Exeter with a BA in English and Drama, Steve lived in Japan studying martial arts and worked as an author for the Rough Guides. He then went on to become ‘adventurer in residence’ for National Geographic, before moving to the BBC’s Natural History Unit where he continues to work today. His Lost Land expedition series have involved him leading the first ascents of jungle mountains, discovering new species and taking the first light into unknown cave systems. He has received two BAFTAs (best children’s presenter, best factual series), as well as the Golden Panda award, and has been nominated for four other BAFTAs and an Emmy.

Steve has published nine books, including Venom, which investigates the complexity of natural poisons and toxins, Looking for Adventure, on leading the first expedition into a volcano crater in New Guinea, and he has also just published Tiger Wars, the first in a series of fiction novels for young adults.