Have wildlife documentaries gone too far – and does it matter?

Online panel discussion.

From Meerkat Manor to Dynasties, big nature documentaries seem to be more Lion King than Life on Earth these days. Has turning animals’ lives into soap operas, giving them names, and relating their lives to ours gone too far?

Recently, a group of academics argued that not only does such an approach misinform the public, it may also harm conservation in the long run. But are they right? After all, TV must entertain and engage as well as inform and educate.

In this panel event, a group of wildlife and broadcast experts will discuss the structure and role of wildlife documentaries in modern broadcasting and conservation.

The Panel

Chaired by Adam Hart, Professor of Science Communication at the University of Gloucestershire

Professor Keith Somerville, Senior Research Fellow at the University of London

Dr Amy Dickman, Conservation Biologist at the University of Oxford

Paul Wooding, Producer and Director

George Verdon, Assistant Producer

Lina Kabbadj, Film Maker

Booking is free and everyone is welcome.

This event will be delivered by Zoom, and the link to the event will be sent to participants the day before the event.