Since early adolescence, Jeff Corwin has been working for the conservation of endangered species and ecosystems around the world. He was introduced to the tropical rain forests while on an expedition to Belize during the summer of 1984 — an experience that helped fire his interest in the study and conservation of these ecological marvels. While pursuing his undergraduate degrees, Jeff became an activist working to protect the threatened rain forests of Central and South America. His efforts led to the establishment of the Emerald Canopy Rainforest Foundation, a grass-roots organization dedicated to protecting rain forests through educational outreach and habitat conservation. While working with Emerald Canopy, Jeff served as a member of a youth action committee for the United Nations Environmental Program. In 1994, Jeff partook in the JASON Project as an expedition naturalist during their televised broadcast from the rain forests of Belize. He then went on to help produce and host Jaguar Trax, a natural-history docu-drama filmed on location in the jungles of Costa Rica. From 1997 to 1999, Jeff co-created, produced and hosted the Disney Channel's popular television series, Going Wild With Jeff Corwin. Going Wild strove to communicate the importance of wildlife to a family audience in a manner that was both fun and educational. In 1998, the show became one of the first computer interactive programs on television, allowing the audience to experience and participate with the exploration process! At present, Jeff has partnered with Animal Planet and Popular Arts Entertainment to launch a new wildlife adventure series titled The Jeff Corwin Experience. Jeff serves as an executive producer and host for this exciting show, which premiered for the prime-time TV audience in fall 2000. Beyond television, Jeff is developing a series of books that explore the natural history of endangered species and the threatened ecosystems they inhabit. When Jeff is not in the field, he spends much of his time presenting an outreach lecture series on wildlife, ecology and conservation to audiences throughout the United States. As a keynote speaker, Jeff has addressed a diverse array of organizations, including the United Nations conference on Youth and the Environment, the Maui Earth Summit, the International Rainforest Conference, Explorers Hall at the National Geographic Society, and convocation and commencement ceremonies for his alma mater, Bridgewater State College. Jeff is also establishing an interactive museum and environmental education center called the EcoZone. The goal of the center will be to help build awareness about the wildlife and ecology unique to the wetlands of southeastern Massachusetts. This state-of-the-art facility is being developed in partnership with the South Shore Natural Science Center of Norwell, Mass. Jeff has bachelor of science degrees in both biology and anthropology from Bridgewater State College. He is currently completing graduate work on Central American bats through the department of natural resource conservation at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. In May 1999, Bridgewater State College honored Jeff with a doctorate in public education for his lifelong work in communicating to the public the need for a sustainable approach to using natural resources and the importance of conserving endangered species. Jeff firmly believes that it is through education and awareness that the natural resources, wildlife and ecosystems making up our planet will be conserved for future generations. (bio and facts courtesy of Animal Planet website)
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