One of Canada’s most celebrated and beloved nature storytellers also might be nature’s most passionate champion: Brian Keating. Honorary Conservation Advisor to the Calgary Zoo and professor of Anthropology at the University of Calgary, Brian has dedicated his life to inspiring others to love nature. He is the host of the new series Great Big Nature and a weekly guest on both Calgary and Edmonton’s CBC Radio, as well as the Discovery Channel. He’s led nature education travel for three decades, authored five children’s books and uses his skills as a pilot, naturalist, scuba diver and mountaineer to bring what he sees to life for his global speaking audiences. Previously the head of Conservation Outreach at the Calgary Zoo, Brian has played a leading role in the reintroduction of vanishing species and the advancement of a balanced vision for conservation. His work has led him to being named the Canadian Nature Federation’s Stan Hodgkiss Canadian Outdoors Person of the Year, a Reader’s Digest’s Canadian Hero of the Year, a Fellow of The Royal Canadian Geographical Society, receiving the Western Legacy Award as one of 100 Outstanding Albertans, and an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Calgary.
Under the watchful eye of a Great Horned Owl and her fledglings, Brian shared with us why we need more science storytellers, and why he remains so passionate about nature – and so hopeful for the future – after all these years.
What do you think?
- What can we learn from Brian, one of the world’s foremost nature storytellers?
- As someone who is respected by both the political left and right, how has he succeeded where others have failed?
- Could Brian have more impact if he focused on controversy? Or is it his positive, hopeful and inclusive message that’s allowed him to build respect and an audience?
- Can people only take so much negativity before they turn away from? Or do humans need the negative message in order to be forced to act?