Biologist | Science Journalist | Author | Television Host
A renowned evolutionary biologist, award-winning television presenter, and bestselling author, Dan Riskin has been making science accessible, engaging, and fun for more than a decade. Whether he’s inspiring viewers as the co-host of Discovery Canada’s flagship science program, Daily Planet; terrifying them as the host of Animal Planet’s docu-horror show, Monsters Inside Me; or covering the latest news as CTV’s Science and Technology Specialist, Riskin’s passion and curiosity have made him an unparalleled source of science inspiration for all.
Riskin doesn’t just talk science – he lives it. A world-renowned expert on bat biomechanics, Riskin earned his PhD from Cornell University and conducted research at Brown University before stepping away from a faculty position to focus on science outreach. Today, Riskin appears on television and radio more than a dozen times each week, except when he’s leading wildlife tours in far-flung places like Borneo, the Amazon, or the Galapagos Islands. He’s often featured on CP24 and CTV National News, and has hosted documentaries for National Geographic, The Science Channel, CBC, W5, and more.
Renowned for his infectious humour and charismatic presence, Riskin has been interviewed about science by Anderson Cooper, Gayle King, Lisa LaFlamme, Don Lemon, Jay Leno, Charlie Rose, Peter Sagal, and many others. Craig Ferguson, who had Riskin as a guest on The Late Late Show eight times, once called him “my favourite scientist.” Riskin is also the author of two bestselling books, Mother Nature is Trying to Kill You and the beloved children’s book, Fiona the Fruit Bat. He also publishes a popular science newsletter, The Bat Signal.
By stoking a childlike passion, Riskin gives audiences so much more than scientific “wow” facts. His keynotes, like his television shows, help individuals see their own curiosity in a new light, pursue their interests with more vigour, and tap into a deeper sense of inspiration. He will spark your audience’s passions, leaving them invigorated to embark on their own journeys of exploration and discovery.
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Banquet: Nature’s lessons on thriving in a world of change
Change has always been part of the human experience, but in this decade change has accelerated dramatically. Artificial intelligence, shifting geopolitics, climate events, and other disruptions are forcing us to ask which parts of the world we grew up in still hold true, and which are gone for good. How do we adapt? Nature offers a clue.
For billions of years, natural selection has acted as an algorithm, allowing living things to adapt to their ever-changing world. In this keynote, biologist and TV science personality Dan Riskin shares concrete lessons from nature that businesses, teams and individuals can use to turn change into opportunity. He’ll show how curiosity is the key to unlocking individual potential, and how a little friction can go a long way toward helping a group solve complex problems.
