DAVID SUZUKI. Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 24 March 1936. Educated at Amherst College in Massachusetts, U.S.A., B.A., 1958; University of Chicago, Ph.D., 1961; postdoctoral research, the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory. Married: 1) Setsuko Joane Sunahara, 1958 (divorced 1965), children: Tamiko, Laura, Troy; 2) Tara Elizabeth Cullis, 1972, children: Severn Cullis-Suzuki and Sarika Cullis-Suzuki. Held positions as research and teaching assistant, 1957-59; research associate, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee, 1961; assistant professor, University of Alberta, 1962-63; assistant professor, University of British Columbia in Vancouver, 1963-69; professor, University of British Columbia since 1969; television and radio host, various science proggrams; syndicated newspaper columnist, since 1989; author of numerous books and scientific articles. Recipient: E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship, 1969-71; Outstanding Japanese-Canadian of the Year Award, 1972; Order of Canada, 1976; Science Council of British Columbia Gold Medal, 1981; Biological Council of Canada Gold Medal, 1986; United Nations Environment Program Medal, 1985; UNESCO's Kalinga Award, 1986; Canadian Booksellers Association's Author of the Year, 1990. Address: c/o Sustainable Development Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 2A9 Canada.

TELEVISION SERIES

1960- The Nature of Things (host)
1971-72 Suzuki on Science
1974-79 Science Magazine (host)

TELEVISION SPECIALS

1977 The Hottest Show on Earth (host/co?writer)
1977 Trouble in the Forest (host)
1979 "How Will We Keep Warm" (Part 1 of The          Remarkable Society Series)
1986 Fragile Harvest (narrator)

RADIO SERIES

1975-79 Quirks and Quarks
1980 Earthwatch
1983- Discovery with David Suzuki
1989 It's a Matter of Survival

PUBLICATIONS (selection)

An Introduction to Genetic Analysis, with A.J.F. Griffiths. New York: W.H. Freeman, 1976.

Metamorphosis. Toronto, Canada: Stoddart, 1987.

Genethics: The Ethics of Engineering Life, with Peter Knudson. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1989.

 

See also Nature of Things; Science Programs

 

 

   

A house-hold name in English-Canada, David Suzuki has almost single-handily popularized some of the most complex scientific issues of our times, largely through the medium of television. While students, teachers and heads of state continually laud his attempts to demystify contemporary science and nature, some in Canada's science community argue that Suzuki's work on environmental issues, in particular, is politically biased. Politics aside, Suzuki's awards of recognition clearly speak for themselves: Canada's most prestigious award, the Order of Canada; UNESCO's Kalinga Prize and the United Nations Environmental Program Medal.

Such recognition, particularly those bestowed to him in his native Canada, are in hindsight quite ironic. Growing up as a third generation Japanese-Canadian, Suzuki, his sisters and mother were placed in internment camps in 1942 by the Canadian government. After the war Suzuki and his family were forbidden by law to return to their Vancouver home.

On the faculty at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Suzuki as a young academic began his illustrious television career teaching science on campus TV. Some ten years later this experience, coupled with his scientific expertise, eventually landed Suzuki a host position on the weekly television program Suzuki on Science, broadcast by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Suzuki would later extend his skills to radio where in 1975 he launched the CBC science affairs program Quirks and Quarks.

Although Suzuki continued on radio, his impact clearly remains in the sphere of Canadian public television. In 1974 he embarked upon his most successful broadcasting position, first as host of the CBC's television series Science Magazine. More importantly, five years later he became host of the well-established series, The Nature of Things. The longest running science and nature television series in North America, The Nature of Things is the CBC's top-selling international program. Established in 1960, the program is seen by viewers in over ninety countries, including on the Discovery Channel in the United States. The program's mandate is to cover a broad range of topics including natural history and the environment, medicine, science and technology.

It is widely recognized that The Nature of Things, as with Suzuki's work in general, surveys the scientific landscape though a critical, humanistic lens. Such an approach has increasingly lent itself to investigations of controversial contemporary issues of social importance. Suzuki's outspoken views on the clearcutting of old growth forests on Canada's west cost, for example, has gained him many friends (and enemies) in logging and environmentalist circles. Whatever one's opinion of his views, however, it would be safe to say that Suzuki remains the voice of popular science on the Canadian airwaves.

-Greg Elmer