Virtual

Portraits of Hope, an Evening with Joel Sartore

For more than 15 years across 50 countries, Joel Sartore has been on a quest to create a photo archive of global biodiversity for his Photo Ark project. In “Portraits of Hope,” Sartore will present stunning images from around the world and chronicle his effort to create portraits of more than 12,000 species of birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. In addition to presenting on his work and photographic adventures, Sartore will reflect on his mission for the Photo Ark to serve as an important record of each animal’s existence and a powerful testament to the importance of saving them. *Allies receive free admission, exclusive access to a breakout session with Joel Sartore, and a signed copy of his new book.

Virtual

Solving the Plastic-Waste Crisis: Reframing our Relationship with Trash

From soil and water contamination to the deadly effects on wildlife, there are many impacts that stem from our trash. But when Lillygol Sedaghat set off on a 9,000-mile journey to better understand the plastic supply chain, she discovered many of those impacts can be positive — especially when communities recognize the untapped value of their trash.

Virtual

Hummingbirds, Hibernation, and Human Medicine: What the World’s Tiniest Birds Reveal About Our Future

Hummingbirds are incredible animals. For Dr. Anusha Shankar, who has studied hummingbirds from the cloud forests of Ecuador to the deserts of Arizona, it was the hummingbirds’ ability to use a hibernation-like state called “torpor” to save energy at night that ignited her interest. In “Hummingbirds, Hibernation, and Human Medicine,” Shankar not only shares her fascination with the strategies hummingbirds use to survive, but also how her and other scientists’ research on torpor has implications that soar beyond the realm of birds. Such research illuminates possibilities for human medicine, from life-saving techniques to futuristic ambitions such as cryogenics and human hibernation.