Lucy Tassell

fundamentally shifting public awareness about plastic pollution, specifically in the oceans.

And after it aired, it really sparked this global conversation about, you know, governments around the world beginning to ban plastics, single use plastics legislation and reform.

So that's this Attenborough effect, as it's been described about, you know, how his documentaries not only educate audiences, but actually change behaviours and policy.

Yeah, he's had a really meaningful connection to Australia, specifically throughout several decades, throughout most of his career.

So, you know, for example, he's done entire series about the Great Barrier Reef.

He's come back time and time again to talk about the reef.

But he's also platformed traditional First Nations cultures and practices and

He journeyed through the Northern Territory as far back as the 60s.

He produced a series then called Quest Under Capricorn and that included a lot of First Nations practices.

He's platformed Tasmania specifically in documentaries and its unique biodiversity.

And even stretching right back to the prehistoric age with Prehistoric Planet in 2022, that explores ancient wildlife that once inhabited the Aussie continent.

Mmm.

So he's had that relationship.

The Australian Environments on Screen Project, which is this research project led by the Australian Research Council, said Attenborough has, quote, invited collective global engagement with the Australian environment in a way that no other individual has, which I think really sums up his impact.

And I did also finally just want to mention the Australian Museum.

Yeah.

Because back in 2017 it awarded Attenborough a Lifetime Patron Honour.

In recognition of his remarkable contributions to scientific communication and advocacy.

But as part of that, it named a newly identified Tasmanian semi-slug after him.

Oh.