Intl. Desalination Assn. officials announced that Philippe Cousteau will be the keynote speaker at the gala dinner for the 2011 IDA World Congress on September 4-9 in Western Australia.
Cousteau is the 31-year-old son of Jan and Philippe Cousteau Sr., and the grandson of Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau. As a member of the legendary family, Philippe is continuing the work of his father through EarthEcho Intl., the non-profit organization he founded with his sister and mother.
Cousteau was recently profiled by Bob Woodruff in an ABC News/Planet Green documentary “Focus Earth: 6 People Saving Our Planet.” He serves as Chief Ocean Correspondent for Discovery’s Animal Planet, where he works on various ocean and environmentally focused content. He recently signed on as a special correspondent for CNN Intl. hosting a series of environmentally themed specials throughout the year.
He has written articles for many publications including National Geographic Magazine and Sport Diver Magazine, and has lectured at such institutions as The United Nations, Harvard University and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
Philippe is also the Chief Spokesperson for Environmental Education for Discovery Education, and recently coauthored Going Blue, A Teen Guide to Saving Our Oceans, Lakes, Rivers and Wetlands.
He serves on the Board of Directors of The Ocean Conservancy, Marine Conservation Biology Institute and the National Environmental Education Foundation, as well as the National Council of the World Wildlife Fund.
His travels have taken him diving, rock climbing, trekking and snowboarding around the world. From expeditions in the highlands of Papua New Guinea to war-torn Sarajevo where he provided humanitarian aid, he has learned that exploring the connections between humans and the environment are as important as exploring nature itself. He holds a Master’s degree in history from the University of St. Andrews.
Source: Intl. Desalination Assn.
