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CLASS OF 2023: Nature show TV presenter given Honorary Award
21/09/2023
The University of Wolverhampton has awarded a national TV presenter an Honorary Doctor of Sciences for her continued efforts to highlight environmental issues and a commitment to animal welfare.
Michaela Strachan has been a regular on our TV screens since 1986, when she was just 20 years old. Her career has been wide and varied. These days she is best known as one of the presenters on the long running BBC series ‘Springwatch’, ‘Winterwatch’ and ‘Autumnwatch’, presenting alongside Chris Packham, Gillian Burke and Iolo Williams.
Honorary awards are presented by the University of Wolverhampton to people who have made a significant contribution to their field of expertise.
Michaela’s career started in Children’s TV where she presented ‘The Wide Awake Club’, ‘The Really Wild Show’ and ‘Michaela’s Wild Challenge’ which won her a BAFTA for best children’s presenter, to name just a few.
In the late 80s she presented the now cult, late night music show, ‘The Hitman and Her’ with Pete Waterman. In more recent years she has been involved with many wildlife and conservation programmes, ‘Countryfile’, ‘Orangutan Diaries’, Elephant Diaries’, ‘Extreme Conservation’ amongst others.
Michaela has travelled all over the world filming animals and conservation programmes and has a huge amount of enthusiasm, passion and compassion for animals and the environment.
Michaela said: “I’m completely overwhelmed to be receiving an honorary doctorate and be surrounded by so many, clearly, very clever students. For someone who left school at 16 and then studied Musical Theatre at College, this is something I really did never imagine!
“Because I don’t have an academic background, I have always felt slightly inadequate, especially compared to people like Chris Packham and Iolo Williams, my co presenters, whose knowledge about the natural world is unbelievable. So, to have an academic institution like The University of Wolverhampton recognise, that to inspire people with enthusiasm and passion, is just as important as academic knowledge, well that really means a huge amount.
“I, like so many people I know, suffer from imposter syndrome, and this honorary doctorate has certainly chipped a large bit of that insecurity away!”
The University’s graduation ceremonies take place at the Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, from Thursday 14 September to Friday 22 September 2023.
Graduates are encouraged to keep in touch with the Alumni team and take advantage of a range of benefits and support on offer to them including a discount for Postgraduate study and opportunities to benefit from mentoring, volunteering and career advice.
For information about courses to study at the University visit the website.
ENDS
For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team.
