 Performance Biologist
Howie Watkins is the World’s foremost (and only) “Performance Biologist”. His unique mix of scientific know-how and performance ability has brought him international recognition for his work as a broadcaster, author, lecturer and stage performer.
Best known for his work presenting television programmes about science, wildlife and the countryside, Howie divides his time between various projects that currently include:
- broadcast radio, television and multimedia commissions
- cabaret, lectures & stage shows
- ecological research
- writing commissioned articles
- teaching children and adults about science and nature in both formal and informal settings
Howie Watkins - Background
Animals and nature have been life-long passions for Howie. His early years on the Island of North Uist, one of Scotland's Hebridean Isles, may well have something to do with this. Free to explore at will with his dog Melanie he developed a fascination for the natural world that has never left him.
Howie graduated from Portsmouth Polytechnic in 1990 to find the world unprepared for a biologist quite like him - so he moved into a zoo; Penscynor Wildlife Park in South Wales. Having specialised in cellular biology as an undergraduate he switched to studying whole animals and ecosystems.
He spent four years there as the Education Co-ordinator where he was involved in everything from helping to run captive breeding programmes for endangered species to giving impromptu talks at animal feeding times. In 1994 he moved on from the zoo to focus more on his freelance broadcast and education projects.
Broadcast Work
Howie’s unbridled enthusiasm, combined with in depth knowledge and a talent for explaining complex subjects in clear language make him popular with audiences. He is an skilled script writer, researcher and interviewer.
Howie worked on BBC1's long running wildlife programme The Really Wild Show from 1993 until 2000 (7 series). He has also been involved in a number of other projects for the BBC's Natural History Unit, including two series of The Really Wild Guide to Britain which toured the UK in search of wildlife and showed viewers how to get close to animals.
In 2000 Howie filmed two series of Animal Planet Unleashed for Discovery Animal Planet. This flagship series launched, and was the backbone of Animal Planet (Europe). He has also filmed series for HTVWales and BBCWales.
He is a regular contributor to news and current affairs programmes and has reported for GMTV, Now TV and BBC-Wales. He has presented education programmes for BBC and Channel 4. Non-broadcast video work includes commissions from independent production houses, corporate clients and charities.
Cabaret & Lectures
Winning in business the chimpanzee way, politics for parrots, how to win fights and become irresistible to the opposite sex. All this and more is revealed when Howie gives one of his popular cabaret lectures. Full audience participation invariably follows.
On a more serious note, Howie is also in demand at conferences and skills workshops for his range of motivational and training lectures on subjects including: building community support, managing the media and public relations. His unusual knowledge-base that embraces land-management and press relations gives him a unique grasp of the challenges that face community and environmental action groups.
Stage Work
Howie has developed a number of one-man shows including Beastly Behaviour, a two-hour show for children (and their parents). He regularly tours the UK with a one-man show for the RSPB and provides a variety of teaching services to schools whenever his schedule allows.
Howie first got a taste for performing at school. A keen violinist and singer, he was a member of numerous choirs, orchestras and ensembles. He also sang opera professionally whilst at school. At university, Howie acted in, produced, and directed a number of student productions, including a critically acclaimed adaption of Dario Fo's Accidental Death of an Anarchist, along with performing the odd bit of stand-up comedy.
1997 saw Howie's first journey into the world of pantomime, playing Wishee Washee in Aladdin at the Assembly Rooms in Tunbridge Wells. His reviews included this from The Stage "...a thoroughly loveable Wishee Washee who clearly relishes this opportunity to use all his skills as an entertainer". In 1998 Howie played Jason, the Queen's henchman in Snow White at the Central Theatre, Chatham. 1999 saw a departure from the usual "friendly" roles that he is more associated with when he played one of Cinderella's Ugly Sisters in Hastings. He played Dame again in 2000, this time in Snow White at the Pavillion Threatre, Worthing.
Writing
Howie writes features for a number of magazines that have included Birdlife, for young members of the RSPB and SciTech, a magazine aimed at teenagers with an interest in science.
|
