Blue Planet II

The Royal Scottish Geographical Society’s (RSGS) Inspiring People talks have arrived – and in Stirling, this means six more exciting names speaking between October 2019 and March 2020.

First up in Stirling on Wednesday 9th October will be Professor Mark Brandon, one of the academic advisors for the BBC’s Frozen Planet and Blue Planet 2.

In his talk, Mark will dive behind the scenes of these programmes and explore how science and discovery were the driving forces behind these multi-award-winning documentaries.

These series used breakthroughs in polar and marine science and cutting-edge technologies to bring viewers face to face with compelling stories of the natural world. Mark will talk about the science of the Polar Regions and our oceans, the ins and outs of the television production process and the legacy of these shows in raising awareness about environmental protection.

Commenting on the upcoming talk, Mark said:

“For my entire career, I’ve worked in the polar regions so I couldn’t miss the chance to work with the BBC.

“I’m delighted to be coming to talk about the latest research that goes into these series. And I’m honoured to be part of the RSGS Inspiring People programme as it gives me the opportunity to reach different cities and committed audiences.”

Over the years, Mark has worked on the front line of climate change. As Professor of Polar Oceanography at the Open University, his research has investigated how the oceans are melting the great ice sheets, how the sea ice around our planet is changing, and the importance of the ocean in the marine ecosystem.

Derek Goldman, Knowledge Exchange Manager for the Open University in Scotland (who are kindly sponsoring this event) commented:

“Teaching at the OU is underpinned by outstanding research in a huge range of fields. Our partnership with the BBC has produced ground-breaking programmes such as Blue Planet and Frozen Planet and our space science research is world-leading.

“These talks are a fantastic opportunity to go behind the scenes of these programmes and find out more about some amazing discoveries.”

Mike Robinson Chief Executive of RSGS commented:

“In the Digital Age, the availability of high-quality film and television are increasingly important in inspiring people to care more deeply about the world around them and catalysing change – and the OU, BBC collaborations are fabulous examples of this. The legacies of series such as Frozen Planet and Blue Planet II are remarkable.”

Mark’s talk will take place on Wednesday 9th October at the Logie Lecture Theatre, Cottrell Building, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA.

Tickets for this event are available on Eventbrite and on the door. They are £10 for visitors or free for RSGS Members/Students. The talk begins at 7.30pm.