George McGavin
Encyclopedia
George C. McGavin FLS
FRGS is an entomologist
, author, academic
, television presenter and explorer.
He is Honorary Research Associate at Oxford University Museum of Natural History
and The Department of Zoology of Oxford University, where he lists his interests as "Terrestrial arthropods especially in tropical forests, caves and savanna. Public understanding of science. Exploration." He is also Visiting Professor of Entomology at the University of Derby
. He studied Zoology at University of Edinburgh
before completing a PhD at the Natural History Museum
and Imperial College, London. He is a Fellow of the Linnean Society and of the Royal Geographical Society
, has several insect species named in his honour. He was previously Assistant Curator of Entomology at Oxford University's Museum of Natural History.
McGavin has lectured at the Cheltenham Science Festival
, given the Royal Geographical Society Children's Christmas Lecture and contributes to their Schools Programme. He won Earthwatch's 'Irreplaceable – The World's Most Invaluable Species' debate
, broadcast on BBC Radio 4
, in 2008 and he is a lecturer on board Cunard
ships. He is a patron of the charity Wildscreen
, of the Bees, Wasp and Ants Recording Scheme
and of the Alderney Records Centre; and is a 'Global Ambassador' for Earthwatch.
He enjoys eating insects, which he describes as "flying prawns".
and Discovery Channel
US series Expedition Borneo (2007), and was co-presenter of the BBC series Expedition, for which he has conducted three expeditions: Lost Land of the Jaguar (2008), Lost Land of the Volcano
(2009), and Lost Land of the Tiger
, in Bhutan
(2010). He is also a regular contributor to The One Show
(BBC1) and has appeared on the Richard & Judy
show to cook and eat insects.
He was Series Consultant and a contributor on Infested (Granada/ITV, 2002) and was the Chief Scientific Consultant for the David Attenborough
series Life in the Undergrowth
.
His other TV appearances include What's up Doc
(STV), Tomorrow's World
(BBC), Package Holiday Undercover (ITV
), Facing the Music (BBC), Take One Museum (Channel 4
) and various national and local news programmes.
As of July 2011, he has two BBC programmes in production: Afterlife: the science of decay and The Dark, about the nocturnal activities of animals.
Linnean Society of London
The Linnean Society of London is the world's premier society for the study and dissemination of taxonomy and natural history. It publishes a zoological journal, as well as botanical and biological journals...
FRGS is an entomologist
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
, author, academic
Academia
Academia is the community of students and scholars engaged in higher education and research.-Etymology:The word comes from the akademeia in ancient Greece. Outside the city walls of Athens, the gymnasium was made famous by Plato as a center of learning...
, television presenter and explorer.
He is Honorary Research Associate at Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Oxford University Museum of Natural History
The Oxford University Museum of Natural History, sometimes known simply as the Oxford University Museum, is a museum displaying many of the University of Oxford's natural history specimens, located on Parks Road in Oxford, England. It also contains a lecture theatre which is used by the...
and The Department of Zoology of Oxford University, where he lists his interests as "Terrestrial arthropods especially in tropical forests, caves and savanna. Public understanding of science. Exploration." He is also Visiting Professor of Entomology at the University of Derby
University of Derby
The University of Derby is a university in the city of Derby, England. The main site is on Kedleston Road, Allestree in the north-west of Derby close to the A38 opposite Markeaton Park...
. He studied Zoology at University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
before completing a PhD at the Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, England . Its main frontage is on Cromwell Road...
and Imperial College, London. He is a Fellow of the Linnean Society and of the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
, has several insect species named in his honour. He was previously Assistant Curator of Entomology at Oxford University's Museum of Natural History.
McGavin has lectured at the Cheltenham Science Festival
Cheltenham Science Festival
The Cheltenham Science Festival is one of the UK's leading science festivals, and is part of Cheltenham Festivals: also responsible for the Jazz, Music and Literature Festivals that run every year.-Introduction and History:...
, given the Royal Geographical Society Children's Christmas Lecture and contributes to their Schools Programme. He won Earthwatch's 'Irreplaceable – The World's Most Invaluable Species' debate
Debate
Debate or debating is a method of interactive and representational argument. Debate is a broader form of argument than logical argument, which only examines consistency from axiom, and factual argument, which only examines what is or isn't the case or rhetoric which is a technique of persuasion...
, broadcast on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
, in 2008 and he is a lecturer on board Cunard
Cunard
Cunard may refer to:* Grace Cunard , American silent film actress* Nancy Cunard , English writer, editor, and publisher* Samuel Cunard , British shipping magnate-Other:...
ships. He is a patron of the charity Wildscreen
Wildscreen
Wildscreen is an educational charity based in Bristol, England, working globally to promote the conservation of nature, and the public’s appreciation of biodiversity, through wildlife imagery....
, of the Bees, Wasp and Ants Recording Scheme
Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Society
BWARS, the Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Society, is a British society dedicated to recording bees, wasps and ants.The recording of these insects is most important to monitor the health of an ecosystem, and in the past, studies of British ants were carried out by such notable myrmecologists as...
and of the Alderney Records Centre; and is a 'Global Ambassador' for Earthwatch.
He enjoys eating insects, which he describes as "flying prawns".
Television
McGavin was a presenter for the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
US series Expedition Borneo (2007), and was co-presenter of the BBC series Expedition, for which he has conducted three expeditions: Lost Land of the Jaguar (2008), Lost Land of the Volcano
Lost Land of the Volcano
Lost Land of the Volcano is a three-part nature documentary series produced by the BBC Natural History Unit which follows a scientific expedition to the island of New Guinea...
(2009), and Lost Land of the Tiger
Lost Land of the Tiger
Lost Land of the Tiger is a three-part nature documentary series produced by the BBC Natural History Unit which follows a scientific expedition to the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. The expedition team is made up of specialist zoologists, explorers and the BBC crew...
, in Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
(2010). He is also a regular contributor to The One Show
The One Show
The One Show is a topical magazine-style daily television programme broadcast live on BBC One and BBC One HD, hosted by Alex Jones and Matt Baker. Chris Evans joins Jones to present the programme on Friday...
(BBC1) and has appeared on the Richard & Judy
Richard & Judy
Richard & Judy was a British magazine/chat show which was presented by married couple Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan. It originally aired on Channel 4 from 2001 to 2008 but later moved to digital channel Watch in October 2008. It featured the world's most famous stars, along with their Book Club...
show to cook and eat insects.
He was Series Consultant and a contributor on Infested (Granada/ITV, 2002) and was the Chief Scientific Consultant for the David Attenborough
David Attenborough
Sir David Frederick Attenborough OM, CH, CVO, CBE, FRS, FZS, FSA is a British broadcaster and naturalist. His career as the face and voice of natural history programmes has endured for more than 50 years...
series Life in the Undergrowth
Life in the Undergrowth
Life in the Undergrowth is a BBC nature documentary series written and presented by David Attenborough, first transmitted in the UK from 23 November 2005....
.
His other TV appearances include What's up Doc
What's Up Doc? (TV series)
What's Up Doc? was a Saturday Morning children's variety series produced Scottish Television and aired on ITV from 1992 to 1995 and hosted by Andy Crane, Yvette Fielding and Pat Sharp...
(STV), Tomorrow's World
Tomorrow's World
Tomorrow's World was a long-running BBC television series, showcasing new developments in the world of science and technology. First aired on 7 July 1965 on BBC1, it ran for 38 years until it was cancelled at the beginning of 2003.- Content :...
(BBC), Package Holiday Undercover (ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
), Facing the Music (BBC), Take One Museum (Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
) and various national and local news programmes.
As of July 2011, he has two BBC programmes in production: Afterlife: the science of decay and The Dark, about the nocturnal activities of animals.