Hermione Cockburn
Encyclopedia
Hermione Cockburn is a British
television
and radio
presenter
specialising in scientific and educational programmes.
in geomorphology
from the University of Edinburgh
, and has worked at various academic institutes including a two-year post-doctorate at the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Melbourne
. She has carried out extensive fieldwork in Antarctica, Australia
and Namibia
.
In 1999, Cockburn helped establish the education service at Our Dynamic Earth
, the prominent science centre and visitor attraction in Edinburgh
, Scotland
.
In 2002, she won BBC
Talent's Science on Screen competition and co-presented the Tomorrow's World
Award Show on BBC One
.
Then, in 2005, Cockburn co-presented What the Ancients Did for Us
with Adam Hart-Davis
for BBC Two
, exploring the scientific legacy of ancient civilisations, before joining the team of Rough Science
(also on BBC Two), replacing Kathy Sykes
for the sixth series.
Expert contributions for the BBC Television
series Coast
have included explanations of Scottish geomorphology, geoarchaeology
and engineering geology
.
In 2008 she presented the BBC Television
/Open University
documentary series Fossil Detectives
for which she also wrote the companion book.
She is an associate lecturer with the Open University
, teaching environmental science
in Scotland and is also the regular presenter of Resource Review on the Teachers' TV channel.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
and radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
presenter
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
specialising in scientific and educational programmes.
Biography
She has a PhDPHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in geomorphology
Geomorphology
Geomorphology is the scientific study of landforms and the processes that shape them...
from the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, and has worked at various academic institutes including a two-year post-doctorate at the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
. She has carried out extensive fieldwork in Antarctica, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
.
In 1999, Cockburn helped establish the education service at Our Dynamic Earth
Our Dynamic Earth
Our Dynamic Earth is a science centre in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is a prominent visitors attraction in the city, and also functions as a conference venue. It sits in the Holyrood area, beside the Scottish Parliament building and at the foot of Arthur's Seat....
, the prominent science centre and visitor attraction in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
In 2002, she won BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Talent's Science on Screen competition and co-presented the Tomorrow's World
Tomorrow's World
Tomorrow's World was a long-running BBC television series, showcasing new developments in the world of science and technology. First aired on 7 July 1965 on BBC1, it ran for 38 years until it was cancelled at the beginning of 2003.- Content :...
Award Show on BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
.
Then, in 2005, Cockburn co-presented What the Ancients Did for Us
What the Ancients Did for Us
What the Ancients Did for Us is a 2005 BBC documentary series presented by Adam Hart-Davis that examines the impact of ancient civilizations on modern society.-Production:...
with Adam Hart-Davis
Adam Hart-Davis
Adam John Hart-Davis is an English scientist, author, photographer, historian and broadcaster, well-known in the UK for presenting the BBC television series Local Heroes and What the Romans Did for Us, the latter spawning several spin-off series involving the Victorians, the Tudors, the Stuarts,...
for BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
, exploring the scientific legacy of ancient civilisations, before joining the team of Rough Science
Rough Science
Rough Science is a British documentary reality television series made by the BBC in collaboration with the Open University. Six series were made between 2000 and 2005. It was broadcast in prime time on BBC Two and is considered something of a "break-out hit" for the Open University...
(also on BBC Two), replacing Kathy Sykes
Kathy Sykes
Kathy Sykes is a British physicist, academic and broadcaster. She has been Professor of Sciences and Society at the University of Bristol since November 2002...
for the sixth series.
Expert contributions for the BBC Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
series Coast
Coast (TV series)
Coast is a BBC documentary series first broadcast on BBC Two television in 2005. A second series started on 26 October 2006, a third in early 2007 and a fourth in mid-2009...
have included explanations of Scottish geomorphology, geoarchaeology
Geoarchaeology
Geoarchaeology is a multi-disciplinary approach which uses the techniques and subject matter of geography, geology and other Earth sciences to examine topics which inform archaeological knowledge and thought...
and engineering geology
Engineering geology
Engineering geology is the application of the geologic sciences to engineering practice for the purpose of assuring that the geologic factors affecting the location, design, construction, operation and maintenance of engineering works are recognized and adequately provided for...
.
In 2008 she presented the BBC Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
/Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
documentary series Fossil Detectives
Fossil Detectives
Fossil Detectives is a 2008 BBC Television documentary series in which presenter Hermione Cockburn travels across Great Britain exploring fossil sites and discovering the latest scientific developments in geology and palaeontology.-Production:...
for which she also wrote the companion book.
She is an associate lecturer with the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
, teaching environmental science
Environmental science
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physical and biological sciences, to the study of the environment, and the solution of environmental problems...
in Scotland and is also the regular presenter of Resource Review on the Teachers' TV channel.