The Big Thaw

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6 at 7:00pm | Grace Conference Room, Higgins University Center

Permafrost—permanently frozen ground that lies under tundra and boreal forests across the Arctic–covers more than 12 percent of the earth’s land.  In The Big Thaw, readers meet scientists and students who have been studying the permafrost and what it contains: a vast store of ancient carbon, more than four times the quantity found in all of today’s forests, a ticking “carbon bomb” releasing carbon dioxide and methane as the permafrost thaws. Braving hordes of mosquitoes, quicksand, and extreme temperatures, the researchers are racing against the clock to educate us about the changes we must make to preserve Earth’s carbon balance.  In this talk, photographer Chris Linder will share behind-the-scenes stories from his eight field seasons photographing scientists at work in Siberia and Alaska.

About Chris Linder

Chris Linder is a professional science and natural history photographer. A former naval officer and oceanographer, Linder now focuses on communicating the stories of scientists working in extreme environments. He has documented more than fifty scientific expeditions from the Congo to Siberia and has spent over two years of his life exploring the polar regions. Linder’s images have appeared in museums, books, calendars, and magazines. A solo exhibition of his photographs, “Exploring the Arctic Seafloor,” was displayed at the Field Museum in Chicago and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. He is the author of Science on Ice: Four Polar Expeditions and was the lead cinematographer for the documentary film Antarctic Edge: 70° South. His work has been recognized with numerous awards from international competitions, including Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Nature’s Best Photography, and International Conservation Photography Awards. When not on assignment, he enjoys sharing his passion for photography by teaching workshops and giving presentations to audiences of all ages. Linder is a Senior Fellow in the International League of Conservation Photographers, a member of the SeaLegacy Collective, and a Fellow National in the Explorers Club.