science-informed storyteller.

We Are still here

As the world considers transitioning out of a global pandemic that has been responsible for the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives, has highlighted racial, class, and economic inequities, and has spurned major economic recessions, many scientists, activists, and practitioners working on the front lines of climate change see this is an opportunity to create a more just, equitable, and sustainable future for all. #wearestillhere is a remote portrait project created using projections highlighting the stories of more than 35 climate change scientists, activists, artists, journalists, and practitioners from over 10 countries who have been impacted by COVID-19. This project is intended to highlight the impacts of the pandemic on this critical work. Although many have encountered a vast array of challenges, these individuals have found unique and innovative ways to fight for a better world. The work has continued. It must.

Property

Through the lens of wildlife products confiscated by the US officials, this project navigates the complex perceptions of wildlife as property. Today, wildlife is often viewed as a commodity and as property. This project aims to convey the juxtaposition of beauty and repulsion by showcasing items crafted from once-living beings. This project examines species that once roamed the plains of the Serengeti, the forests of Sumatra, and the grasslands of the Savannah that now sit lifeless on a shelf gathering dust. Rhinos feet turned into ice buckets. Elephants turned into cowboy boots. Leopards turned into foot stools. From odd trinkets, to musical instruments, from purses to jewelry, we gain a glimpse into the perspective of wildlife as property. Many of these species are endangered or on the brink of extinction, and unless we act fast, we will lose them forever.

Guardian of the glaciers

A real-time "David and Goliath" story is currently playing out in the Himalaya. As climate change transforms the world's tallest mountains and glaciers, Nepal - a tiny country sandwiched between two of the world's largest carbon emitters (China and India) - is taking legal action. In 2018, the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) met with delegates to the Nepali Constituent Assembly and Parliamentary members in partnership with the Center for Economic and Social Development to draft legislative language to support national protections against climate change. Essentially, by giving the Himalayan ecosystem legal rights under the Nepali constitution, Nepal could give voice to the mountains and hold its neighbors accountable for its excess carbon pollution. This is a story about livelihoods, long-term water security, and the relationship people hold with the mountains. Sometimes the mightiest of leaders are the most unexpected. For the Himalaya, let’s just hope it will be in time.

the rivers ran east

In 1947, former OSS agent, retired US Army Colonel, and explorer Leonard Clark, came into possession of a secret map that led him to 7 ancient cities of gold deep in the Amazon jungle of Peru. Despite being chronicled in his book The Rivers Ran East, few people have attempted to confirm his discovery. Until 2013. The River's Ran East project follows the journey of seven individuals who retraced Leonard Clark’s route along the Marañón River in Northern Peru to confirm his claims, attempt to locate the ancient ruins, and learn about the rich history, ecosystems, and cultures of the area. It is a story about understanding the past, and improving the future. It is about the corners of this world where people and the environment still depend on each other, and is about the threats that these communities face from illegal loggers and miners.

Thrangu the Sacred

Tucked away in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains outside of Kathmandu, the Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery sits perched atop a mountainside. The teachings at Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery are deeply entwined in its 6000+ year-old history and in Prince Mahasatwo’s loving self-sacrifice to a hungry tigress and her cubs. Some 3500 years later, reincarnated as the Buddha, he returned to this hilltop. The main ornate shrine still houses relics of the Buddha. Home to over 250 student monks, the monastery was founded by Thrangu Rinpoche in 1978 and still houses sacred bone relics of the Buddha in its ornate main shrine. This project provides a small glimpse into the lives of students and teachers at the monastery.

New ways to honor the old ways

A member of the Oglala Lakota Sioux and a fifth-generation direct descendant of the Lakota warrior Chief Red Cloud, Henry Red Cloud is focused on climate resilience — both through reforestation of the land and teaching tribal communities about sustainable energy. In partnership with the organization Trees, Water, and People, a non-profit based out of Fort Collins, Colorado, Red Cloud and his team have planted more than 100,000 ponderosa pines on Pine Ridge over the past six years. Whether it’s in preparing a new team of volunteers to plant saplings or leading a workshop on residential-scale solar furnaces, Red Cloud says he plans to continue to work towards building a more resilient and sustainable future for his people and for indigenous communities across the United States. He hopes that it empowers people to carry forward a vision shared by his ancestors to build a better life for the next generations — “a new way to honor the old ways,” he says.