Guest lecture: Dr Rhys Jones – A Wild Life
- Saturday 18 July 2026
- 15:00 - 17:00
- This event has passed
The Big Reunion Weekend's guest lecture, explores the remarkable story of one of Wales’ most inspiring wildlife communicators and scientists.
BAFTA-nominated wildlife presenter and star of BBC One’s Rhys Jones’s Wildlife Patrol, Dr Rhys Jones (BSc 1999, MPhil 2003, PhD 2010), shares his extraordinary journey from a Cardiff council estate to international television screens.
Inspired as a child by the adventures of Indiana Jones, Rhys dreamed of far-flung places and discovering incredible wildlife along the way. However, after facing the challenges of undiagnosed dyslexia and leaving school at 15 with no formal qualifications, that dream felt a long way off.
Determined to change his path, Rhys returned to education and set his sights on Cardiff University, pursuing his ambition to build a career in biology. Three degrees later, doors began to open to opportunities he could never have imagined, launching a global career in conservation, research and broadcasting.
Rhys has since advised governments and broadcasters, working with organisations including DEFRA, INTERPOL and police forces around the world in the fight against wildlife crime.
He worked alongside Sir David Attenborough on the first BBC Planet Earth series, and his programmes have aired on BBC, Discovery, Disney+, National Geographic, The Smithsonian Channel and Prime Video.
In 2023, Rhys published his memoir Becoming Dr Jones: a wild life, reflecting on the experiences that shaped his life and career. His second book in the series will be published summer 2026.
Rhys is currently an Associate Professor at the University’s School of Biosciences where he lectures on evolutionary biology, animal diversity and the environment.
During the afternoon, Rhys will share how Cardiff University changed his life, shaped his career, and opened the door to achieving a lifelong ambition.
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Contact
- Development and Alumni Relations
- [email protected]
Location
Sir Martin Evans Building
Museum Avenue
Cardiff
CF10 3AX