Adam Spencer
Encyclopedia
Adam Barrington Spencer (born 27 January 1969, in Sydney) is an Australian radio presenter, comedian
, and media personality. He first came to fame when he won his round of the comedic talent search Raw Comedy
in the mid-1990s. Soon thereafter, he began working at Triple J
, on mid-dawn and drive shifts before hosting the Triple J Breakfast Show with Wil Anderson
.
He is a patron of various science-related events and programs, including the University of Sydney
's Eureka Prize, a "lateral-thinking" science prize. He is also a member of the Sleek Geek Week
tour along with Karl Kruszelnicki
, as well as performing his own stand up comedy at events around the country.
/Gladesville
area of Sydney.
Spencer was born without the muscle levator palpebrae superioris in his right upper eyelid, leading to permanent ptosis
(drooping of the upper eyelid) and noticeable facial asymmetry. He later received a transplant from a deceased motorcyclist in an operation performed by eye surgeon Fred Hollows
, allowing him to "open" that eye. His vision is normal.
On the final day of his breakfast show in 2004, he announced that his partner Mel was pregnant and that the next year he would be leaving his media career to become a full-time dad, although he returned within 2 years to present another breakfast radio show. He married Mel on 28 January 2006.
.
He graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Science
with first class honours in pure mathematics
in 1991. While at university, he was one of the world's top-ranked debaters, reaching the final round of the World Universities Debating Championship
three times (1990, 1992, 1996) and winning Worlds Best Speaker (1996). He also won the Australasian Debating Championship twice (1988, 1990). He was also President of the University of Sydney Union
.
second grade women's football
team.
Since December 2001, he has been a Fellow of the University Senate. He had also previously served a term from 1992 to 1995. He is a member of the NSW Premier's Advisory Committee on Greenhouse and Global Warming and the NSW Health Department's Clinical Ethics Review Committee.
and Kids For Life and is an Ambassador for the The Fred Hollows Foundation
. Spencer has also made appearances at the Wave Aid concert in Sydney in 2004, the Australian leg
of Live Earth
in 2007 and the Sound Relief
concert in Sydney in 2009.
science shows Quantum
, FAQ and Sleek Geeks
. In 2005, Spencer hosted Australia's first poker TV show, Joker Poker
, on the Ten Network.
, Spencer hosted Triple J's breakfast show, before they both retired from the show in 2004. On 20 February 2006, he began presenting Breakfast on 702 ABC Sydney
replacing Angela Catterns
. Spencer also hosts the "Smile High Club" radio show programme on Qantas Airlines radio channel, Q.
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, and media personality. He first came to fame when he won his round of the comedic talent search Raw Comedy
Raw Comedy
Raw Comedy is an Australian competition for emerging stand-up comedians, established in 1996 and held annually since.Heats take place in major Australian cities through January, February and March. State semi-finals and finals are held in the state capitals in March...
in the mid-1990s. Soon thereafter, he began working at Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
, on mid-dawn and drive shifts before hosting the Triple J Breakfast Show with Wil Anderson
Wil Anderson
William James "Wil" Anderson is an Australian comedian, writer, performing stand-up, and television and radio presenter and personality.- Early life :...
.
He is a patron of various science-related events and programs, including the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
's Eureka Prize, a "lateral-thinking" science prize. He is also a member of the Sleek Geek Week
Sleek Geek Week
Sleek Geek Week is an annual event in which Dr Karl Kruszelnicki and Adam Spencer travel to several destinations around Australia, presenting free talks on the topic of popular science...
tour along with Karl Kruszelnicki
Karl Kruszelnicki
Karl Kruszelnicki AM is a scientist, who is best known as an author and science commentator on Australian radio and television. He is often referred to as Dr Karl....
, as well as performing his own stand up comedy at events around the country.
Personal life
Spencer grew up in the Hunters HillHunters Hill, New South Wales
Hunters Hill is a suburb in Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Hunters Hill is located 9 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the Municipality of Hunter's Hill.Hunters Hill is situated on a...
/Gladesville
Gladesville, New South Wales
Gladesville is a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Gladesville is located 9 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government areas of the City of Ryde and the Municipality of Hunter's Hill and is part of the Northern Suburbs area.Gladesville prides...
area of Sydney.
Spencer was born without the muscle levator palpebrae superioris in his right upper eyelid, leading to permanent ptosis
Ptosis (eyelid)
Ptosis is a drooping of the upper or lower eyelid. The drooping may be worse after being awake longer, when the individual's muscles are tired. This condition is sometimes called "lazy eye", but that term normally refers to amblyopia...
(drooping of the upper eyelid) and noticeable facial asymmetry. He later received a transplant from a deceased motorcyclist in an operation performed by eye surgeon Fred Hollows
Fred Hollows
Frederick "Fred" Cossom Hollows, AC was an ophthalmologist who became known for his work in restoring eyesight for countless thousands of people in Australia and many other countries...
, allowing him to "open" that eye. His vision is normal.
On the final day of his breakfast show in 2004, he announced that his partner Mel was pregnant and that the next year he would be leaving his media career to become a full-time dad, although he returned within 2 years to present another breakfast radio show. He married Mel on 28 January 2006.
Education
Spencer attended St Aloysius' College in Sydney, and was a vice-captain of the College and Captain of the Australian Schools Debating Team. He attended school with Federal MP Joe HockeyJoe Hockey
Joseph Benedict "Joe" Hockey , is an Australian politician and member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Division of North Sydney for the Liberal Party of Australia since 1996....
.
He graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
with first class honours in pure mathematics
Pure mathematics
Broadly speaking, pure mathematics is mathematics which studies entirely abstract concepts. From the eighteenth century onwards, this was a recognized category of mathematical activity, sometimes characterized as speculative mathematics, and at variance with the trend towards meeting the needs of...
in 1991. While at university, he was one of the world's top-ranked debaters, reaching the final round of the World Universities Debating Championship
World Universities Debating Championship
The World Universities Debating Championship is the world's largest debating tournament, and one of the largest annual international student events in the world. It is a parliamentary debating event, held using the British Parliamentary Debate format. Each year, the event is hosted by a university...
three times (1990, 1992, 1996) and winning Worlds Best Speaker (1996). He also won the Australasian Debating Championship twice (1988, 1990). He was also President of the University of Sydney Union
University of Sydney Union
The University of Sydney Union is the student-run services and amenities provider at the University of Sydney. The Union's key services include the provision of food and beverages, live music and other entertainment, the Verge Arts Festival and other cultural activities, Orientation week and...
.
Service
He is the coach of the University of SydneyUniversity of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
second grade women's football
Women's football (soccer)
Women's association football has been played for many decades, but was associated with charity games and physical exercise in the past before the breakthrough of organized women's association football came in the 1970s. Before the 1970s, football was basically seen as a men's game...
team.
Since December 2001, he has been a Fellow of the University Senate. He had also previously served a term from 1992 to 1995. He is a member of the NSW Premier's Advisory Committee on Greenhouse and Global Warming and the NSW Health Department's Clinical Ethics Review Committee.
Charity
Spencer regularly promotes the work of Redkite, UnifemUNIFEM
The United Nations Development Fund for Women, commonly known as UNIFEM was established in December 1976 originally as the Voluntary Fund for the United Nations Decade for Women in the International Women's Year. Its first director was Dr. Margaret Snyder, Ph.D...
and Kids For Life and is an Ambassador for the The Fred Hollows Foundation
The Fred Hollows Foundation
The Fred Hollows Foundation is a non-profit aid organization based in Australia founded in 1992 by eye surgeon Fred Hollows. The Foundation focuses on treating and preventing blindness and other vision problems...
. Spencer has also made appearances at the Wave Aid concert in Sydney in 2004, the Australian leg
Live Earth concert, Sydney
The Live Earth concert in Australia was held at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney on 7 July 2007, in front of around 45,000 people. It was the first of the Live Earth concerts to kick-off the day-long event & promoted by Michael Chugg, Amanda Pelman of Chugg Entertainment, Joe Segreto of IMC /...
of Live Earth
Live Earth
-Background:Founded by Emmy-winning producer Kevin Wall, in partnership with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, Live Earth was built upon the belief that entertainment has the power to transcend social and cultural barriers to move the world community to action...
in 2007 and the Sound Relief
Sound Relief
Sound Relief was a multi-venue rock music concert held on 14 March 2009, which was announced by the Premier of Victoria, John Brumby on 24 February 2009...
concert in Sydney in 2009.
Television
Adam Spencer has been a host of ABCAustralian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
science shows Quantum
Quantum (TV Series)
Quantum is an Australian television show about science and technology that aired on ABC television for 16 years. It aired its last episode on 26 April 2001, and has been replaced by Catalyst.-External links:**...
, FAQ and Sleek Geeks
Sleek Geeks
Sleek Geeks is an Australian science television series, hosted by Dr Karl Kruszelnicki and Adam Spencer. The six-part series aired from 3 January 2008, and was based on Kruszelnicki and Spencer's Sleek Geek Week travelling roadshow, as well as Kruszelnicki's Great Moments in Science broadcasts on...
. In 2005, Spencer hosted Australia's first poker TV show, Joker Poker
Joker Poker
Joker Poker was a late night Australian poker program on Network Ten which aired in 2005 and 2006. Series one was hosted by Adam Spencer, with series two hosted by Mike Goldman. Both series were co-hosted by New Zealand poker pro Lee Nelson and Australian model Laura Weston acted as hostess...
, on the Ten Network.
|
Radio
From 1999, and joined in 2000 by Wil AndersonWil Anderson
William James "Wil" Anderson is an Australian comedian, writer, performing stand-up, and television and radio presenter and personality.- Early life :...
, Spencer hosted Triple J's breakfast show, before they both retired from the show in 2004. On 20 February 2006, he began presenting Breakfast on 702 ABC Sydney
702 ABC Sydney
702 ABC Sydney is an ABC radio station in Sydney, Australia. It is the flagship station in the ABC Local Radio network and broadcasts on 702 kHz on the AM dial....
replacing Angela Catterns
Angela Catterns
-Early career:Catterns began her radio career at Lismore's local station 2LM, followed by several years in Orange working at CBN8 TV.She then returned to her native Sydney after working as a sound recordist on a documentary shot in Papua New Guinea....
. Spencer also hosts the "Smile High Club" radio show programme on Qantas Airlines radio channel, Q.