Swansea University: Est. 1920, still making waves.
Swansea University has bestowed an Honorary Degree on one of Wales’s best-known broadcasters.
Wildlife expert Iolo Williams, presenter of the BBC’s Springwatch, received the award on Tuesday January 27 2015 during the ceremony for the College of Human and Health Sciences and the College of Science held at the Brangwyn Hall.
Presenting the award, Professor Steve Wilks, Pro-VC Designate and, until earlier this month, Head of the College of Science, said:
“Iolo demonstrates qualities that we seek to develop and encourage at all levels at Swansea University to add value to the student experience.
He is community-centred, dedicated to communication and actively engaged in addressing real world problems – many of the attributes we value so highly at Swansea University.”
During his 15-year connection with Swansea University, Iolo has used his public profile to highlight environmental issues and helped the College of Science reach into the wider community.
Iolo Williams said of the honour:
“I am deeply moved to be presented with this honorary award by Swansea University. I have worked closely with the university on several occasions in the past and am in awe of the academic talent they have on campus. For someone like me, who was never an academic genius, to be given this award is a great honour.”
The broadcaster has presented more than 25 TV series in English and Welsh including Tir Cymru, a landmark S4C series on the landscape of Wales. Among his published works, Iolo co-authored Birds in Wales, the first book to collate all records of birds across the nation.
He also worked on the first Welsh language pocket guide to European birds, a Welsh pictorial guide to British wildlife and a series of habitat guides for children.
In 2013, Iolo launched the Swansea University Biodiversity Trail, created in partnership by the Department of Biosciences’ Swansea Ecology Research Team (SERT). Earlier this month his BBC series Iolo’s Great Welsh Parks highlighted the Singleton Campus Biodiversity Action Plan.
