Jeff Corwin, host of Animal Planet's The Jeff Corwin Experience and Corwin's Quest, spoke to an enthusiastic audience of more than 300 people last night in Eisenhower Auditorium.

He entertained and educated a captivated audience, both young and old, with stories about his experiences in the wild.

Video clips from his television series were also shown at the beginning of the night.

Corwin said that his main goal for the show is to educate and get the viewers excited about nature.

He added that it is important to find a balance between entertainment and education.

"Television is all about entertainment, and when you forget this, you will be out of a job," he said. "I try to use the television as a vehicle to [entertain and educate]."

Mariana Garcia (senior-bioengineering) said that she was really struck by the fact that Corwin's priority is to promote ecological advantages.

"You can tell that he really wants to educate people, and he really shows a lot of empathy," Garcia said.

Corwin also addressed the recent tragic death of Steve Irwin.

"No matter how much you dot your I's and cross your T's there is still always a risk when dealing with wild animals," he said. "We learned this these past couple months with the tragic death of Steve Irwin."

Corwin said that the biggest lesson he learned from this tragedy is to always tell his family how much he loves them and to not leave anything open.

"You only have one chance at life; you have to make the most of it," he said.

Corwin also discussed his position as a naturalist and as a biologist.

He described himself as a biologist in the past because he loved animals and exploring nature. However, he said he is a biologist today because he is terrified of the world his daughter is going to face.

"The next generation will not have as healthy of a wild life to explore because of our actions," he said.

He encouraged the audience to be proactive and to embrace conservation.

"Conservation is about what is happening in your backyard, in your community," he said. "I am very hopeful that in the next few years we will wake up and start acting more wisely."

Corwin also added that his daughter is a primary inspiration to him every day and that he gets excited about nature through her eyes.

"Her sense of enthusiasm and her bright eyed, unjaded view of the world is what gets me excited," he said. "I am truly inspired by her enthusiasm."

Carmen Grego (senior-bioengineering) said that he found Corwin interesting and engaging.

"He always knows what to say to get you thinking," Grego said. "He really makes you think about your part and your actions within your own species."