Exotic and endangered animals are all in a day’s work for wildlife biologist Jeff Corwin. From an early age, Corwin has been trying to help endangered species of animals. It is through his passion that he has found great success, and he will share his success stories with NMU students and the community this weekend during family weekend.
NMU’s Platform Personalities is bringing Corwin to lecture on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the Vandement Arena.
“Jeff is someone who appeals to a lot of people. He’s a fun guy, and he’ll have animals. It will be entertaining and educational,” said Rachel Harris, adviser to Platform Personalities.
Corwin has an important message that can benefit all of his fans and viewers.
“I have a feeling most people can learn something from his talk about … what we can do for endangered animals,” Harris said.
The organization conducted a survey for students during orientation this past summer as well as a survey on Facebook to see whom they wanted to hear speak, and Corwin was the overwhelming choice, said Tom Rosencrants, the student contact of Platform Personalities.
Corwin will be coming to lecture about his career and his life experiences as a wildlife biologist. He will tell stories of the things he has done and why they were important.
“He will be bringing an assortment of exotic animals, too,” Rosencrants said.
It is also a possibility that Corwin will be picking people out of the crowd to come up on stage and help him out, Rosencrants said.
Corwin will be at NMU during Family Weekend, giving families the opportunity to experience his adventures together.
“This was a good weekend to bring him, for Family Weekend,” Harris said.
After the lecture, which should last around an hour, there will be a book signing and some merchandise sold by the bookstore, Rosencrants said.
Corwin’s newest book, “100 Heartbeats,” is about different species who are becoming more endangered and how he is working to help and protect them.
He began working on the conservation of species at an early age. He hosted television shows on many networks, but he is most well-known for being on Animal Planet.
Corwin has a bachelor’s degree in both biology and anthropology, and a master’s degree in wildlife and fisheries conservation.
Tickets are selling quickly, Rosencrants said, and are on sale at the NMU bookstore. The charge is $1 for NMU students, $3 for people 18 years old and under, and $5 for the general public.
