Talks for schools

David is a school speaker offering a range of educational talks for schools that help enhance subject teaching, entertain, or provoke deeper thinking on an issue. As a trained geography teacher and environmental science lecturer, David is well placed to see the educational value of his school talks, and to extract the key points. His Grand Canyon talk can touch on issues such as the changing perception of landscape, the conservation issues facing national parks, how geology shapes the scenery - among many others. Montserrat can give insights into how science fieldwork is conducted (and the difficulties and sampling strategies) as well as looking at how geographers assess volcanoes and produce hazard maps to help with the evacuations that David witnessed.

As a school speaker David can also bring to bear his expertise as an Effective Learning Adviser for the universities of Glasgow and the West of Scotland. In this role he helps orientate new students to the university experience so they gain the most from university and develop skills that let them demonstrate their true abilities. Based on this work, David can offer his very popular exam and revision skills multimedia presentation to help students prepare well and perform well.

David is a popular speaker at many schools, including Rugby, Harrow, Uppingham, Dulwich College and Sedbergh. Harrow School used David to deliver an abbreviated version of his Montserrat talk to four geography classes as part of their curriculum studies, before giving a whole school slide talk in the evening. Rugby School had David give his Grand Canyon talk to help brief pupils going on a school trip to the area.

He is keen to engage with pupils and that full advantage is taken of what he can additionally offer when he visits (e.g. used as a resource in classes or discussions). He can give tasters from courses he has taught for university (including sustainable energy) or use his own wide experience to provide concrete examples to support syllabus teaching. The George Salter Collegiate Academy used David to deliver talks throughout the school day on Montserrat, exam and revision skills, travel with a purpose, and energy.

David will often be able to visit a school while he is in the area for another speaking engagement, thereby significantly reducing travel expenses.

Themed school talks

David can provide school talks on a variety of travel and environmental themes, bringing together ideas gleaned from a wide range of experiences. His university environmental lecturing background enables him to offer talks on climate change, habitat loss, threats to biodiversity, environmental ethics, conservation, ozone depletion and plate tectonics, as well as the talks on the menu bar at the top of this page.

• Biodiversity & species extinction. - A thought provoking look at the issues which face our planet, and the environmental trials survived.
• Youth and school expeditions to Iceland, Yukon, and Botswana, with themes including: wildlife, fieldwork, adventure & challenge, personal development.
• Travelling with a purpose: the environment and travel. - How should people view the world and best approach it for maximum enjoyment and minimum impact?
• Youth in the outdoors: opportunities, ethics and approaches. - An ideal exposition for leaders responsible for young people in the outdoors, or adventurous youngsters themselves.
• The evolution of planet Earth - Why our planet is the way it is today.
• Climate change, including impacts and the difficulties of monitoring earth's natural systems.