James Burke Science Historian Author TV Host / Writer / Producer.

James Burke has been called “One of the most intriguing minds in the Western world.” (Washington Post). Thanks to satellite and cable technology, his audience is global. His influence in the field of the public understanding of science and technology is acknowledged in citations by such authoritative sources as The Smithsonian and Microsoft CEO Bill Gates. His work is on the curriculum of universities and schools across the United States.

In 1965 James Burke began work with BBC-TV on Tomorrow’s World and went on to become the BBC’s chief reporter on the Apollo Moon missions. For over thirty years he has produced, directed, written and presented award-winning television series on the BBC, PBS and The Learning Channel. These include historical series, such as Connections (aired in 1979, it achieved the highest-ever documentary audience), The Day the Universe Changed, and Connections2; a one-man science series, The Burke Special; a mini-series on the brain, The Neuron Suite; a series on the greenhouse effect, After the Warming and a special for the National Art Gallery on Renaissance painting, Masters of Illusion.

A bestselling author, his publications include: Tomorrow's World, Tomorrow’s World II, Connections, The Day the Universe Changed, Chances, The Axemaker’s Gift (with Robert Ornstein), The Pinball Effect, The Knowledge Web and Circles. His next book, 1+1=3: The Accidental Modern World, is forthcoming from Simon & Schuster in fall 2002. Burke has also written and hosted a bestselling CD-ROM titled: Connections: A Mind Game.

Burke is a frequent keynote speaker on the subject of technology and social change to audiences such as NASA, MIT, IBM, Microsoft, US Government Agencies and the World Affairs Council.

He wrote a monthly column for Scientific American for six years and is currently a contributor to Forbes ASAP and Time magazine. His most recent television work is the ten-hour technology history series for The Learning Channel: Connections3. He is at present working on a large interactive knowledge system which is due online in 2002.

Burke was educated at Oxford and also holds honorary doctorates for his work in communicating science and technology.