Ian Fergusson
Encyclopedia
Ian Kenneth Fergusson is BBC Weather Presenter and a noted UK-based expert on shark
s, especially species inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea
.
in Mediterranean and north-eastern Atlantic waters.
A dedicated marine conservationist, Fergusson was a founding trustee, inaugural chairman and now a patron of the Shark Trust
, a wildlife charity formed in 1997 and based in Plymouth, UK. Since 1994, he has served as a member of the IUCN (World Conservation Union) Shark Specialist Group, preparing and co-preparing Red List status accounts. He is professionally qualified as a Chartered Biologist
(CBiol) and made a member (MSB) of the Society of Biology, formerly Institute of Biology
in 1995.
and for local radio across much of England's West Country
, namely BBC Radio Bristol
, BBC Radio Gloucestershire
, BBC Wiltshire
, and BBC Somerset.
In his official BBC biography, Fergusson reveals his "lifelong passion" for meteorology. He first appeared presenting weather on BBC Points West
in April 2008, having previously worked at BBC Bristol in roles as a staff cameraman and managing press and publicity there. He has appeared in various TV natural history documentaries about sharks since the early 1990s, including presenting Channel 4's Equinox: Jaws in the Med in 1995 and more recently appearing in BBC TWO's landmark series Oceans in December 2008. He is credited as scientific advisor for the Emmy-awarded 1995 production Great White Shark: A Wildlife Special, co-produced by the BBC with National Geographic. In 2007 he won a Craft Award for camerawork from the Royal Television Society
in Bristol and was a nominee for the same category in 2006. Fergusson is a Freeman of the City of London.
During 2001-2002, Fergusson worked as a weather presenter for Herts-TV, a (now defunct)local TV news venture in Hertfordshire, UK. A selection of out-takes from his weather forecasts were subsequently screened in the long-running ITV series TV's Naughtiest Blunders
.
In his BBC biography, Fergusson cites his longstanding interest in Formula One motor-racing and has often indicated that he is a supporter of 2008 F1 World Champion & McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton
. In 2009, he was the BBC's weather forecaster providing race weekend weather prospects for each Grand Prix on the BBC's online coverage for the sport and popular '606' forum.
Shark
Sharks are a type of fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton and a highly streamlined body. The earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago....
s, especially species inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
.
Work in shark research
Fergusson has authored or co-authored a number of papers in marine biological science journals since 1993. Much of his research has focussed on biology of the great white sharkGreat white shark
The great white shark, scientific name Carcharodon carcharias, also known as the great white, white pointer, white shark, or white death, is a large lamniform shark found in coastal surface waters in all major oceans. It is known for its size, with the largest individuals known to have approached...
in Mediterranean and north-eastern Atlantic waters.
A dedicated marine conservationist, Fergusson was a founding trustee, inaugural chairman and now a patron of the Shark Trust
Shark Trust
Shark Trust is a charitable organization founded in the UK in 1997"dedicated to promoting the study, management, and conservation of sharks,skates and rays in the UK and internationally."....
, a wildlife charity formed in 1997 and based in Plymouth, UK. Since 1994, he has served as a member of the IUCN (World Conservation Union) Shark Specialist Group, preparing and co-preparing Red List status accounts. He is professionally qualified as a Chartered Biologist
Chartered Biologist
The term Chartered Biologist is a British professional qualification in biology. The title "Chartered Biologist" is legally protected in the UK, and Chartered Biologists have the exclusive entitlement to use the designation CBiol after their names....
(CBiol) and made a member (MSB) of the Society of Biology, formerly Institute of Biology
Institute of Biology
The Institute of Biology was a professional body for biologists, primarily those working in the United Kingdom. The Institute was founded in 1950 by the Biological Council: the then umbrella body for Britain's many learned biological societies...
in 1995.
Broadcasting career
Fergusson works for the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation)presenting TV weather bulletins on regional TV news BBC Points WestBBC Points West
BBC Points West is the BBC's regional news programme for the West of England, covering Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire...
and for local radio across much of England's West Country
West Country
The West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. It is often defined to encompass the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset and the City of Bristol, while the counties of...
, namely BBC Radio Bristol
BBC Radio Bristol
BBC Radio Bristol is the BBC Local Radio service for the English city of Bristol and the surrounding former Avon area. Launched in September 1970, it broadcasts from Broadcasting House in Bristol on FM frequencies 94.9 MHz , 104.6 MHz , 103.6 MHz , on AM 1548 kHz and on DAB.The...
, BBC Radio Gloucestershire
BBC Radio Gloucestershire
BBC Radio Gloucestershire is the BBC Local Radio service for the English county of Gloucestershire, which started on 3 October 1988. It broadcasts from its studios in London Rd, Gloucester on 95 , 95.8 , 104.7 FM, 1413 in the Cotswolds & Forest of Dean AM and over the internet.-Transmitters:The...
, BBC Wiltshire
BBC Wiltshire
BBC Wiltshire is the BBC Local Radio station and BBC Online service for the English county of Wiltshire. The station marked its 20th anniversary in 2009.-BBC Wiltshire Sound :...
, and BBC Somerset.
In his official BBC biography, Fergusson reveals his "lifelong passion" for meteorology. He first appeared presenting weather on BBC Points West
BBC Points West
BBC Points West is the BBC's regional news programme for the West of England, covering Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire...
in April 2008, having previously worked at BBC Bristol in roles as a staff cameraman and managing press and publicity there. He has appeared in various TV natural history documentaries about sharks since the early 1990s, including presenting Channel 4's Equinox: Jaws in the Med in 1995 and more recently appearing in BBC TWO's landmark series Oceans in December 2008. He is credited as scientific advisor for the Emmy-awarded 1995 production Great White Shark: A Wildlife Special, co-produced by the BBC with National Geographic. In 2007 he won a Craft Award for camerawork from the Royal Television Society
Royal Television Society
The Royal Television Society is a British-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television in all its forms, past, present and future. It is the oldest television society in the world...
in Bristol and was a nominee for the same category in 2006. Fergusson is a Freeman of the City of London.
During 2001-2002, Fergusson worked as a weather presenter for Herts-TV, a (now defunct)local TV news venture in Hertfordshire, UK. A selection of out-takes from his weather forecasts were subsequently screened in the long-running ITV series TV's Naughtiest Blunders
TV's Naughtiest Blunders
TV's Naughtiest Blunders was an out-takes show, that ran from 2000 till 2005. It was shown on ITV and produced by Carlton Television. The show was narrated by Neil Morrissey and features edited out clips and mistakes made by people on TV...
.
In his BBC biography, Fergusson cites his longstanding interest in Formula One motor-racing and has often indicated that he is a supporter of 2008 F1 World Champion & McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton, MBE is a British Formula One racing driver from England, currently racing for the McLaren team. He was the Formula One World Champion.Hamilton was born in Stevenage, Hertfordshire...
. In 2009, he was the BBC's weather forecaster providing race weekend weather prospects for each Grand Prix on the BBC's online coverage for the sport and popular '606' forum.