Dr. M Jackson
National Geographic Explorer and Glaciologist
Dr. M Jackson is a multidisciplinary science communicator, writer, geographer, and glaciologist exploring the intersections of society, glaciology, and climate change. Jackson is a National Geographic Society Explorer, TED Fellow, and three-time U.S. Fulbright Scholar. Jackson earned a doctorate from the University of Oregon, a Master of Science degree from the University of Montana, and serves as a U.S. Fulbright Ambassador, an Expert for National Geographic Expeditions, is the Climate and Energy host for Crash Course, and lead scientist on Netflix’s docuseries Pirate Gold of Adak Island. Jackson is a public speaker and author of the award-winning books Ice to Water (2024), The Ice Sings Back (2023), The Secret Lives of Glaciers (2019), and While Glaciers Slept (2015).
The Secret Lives of Glaciers
Join Dr. M Jackson, a National Geographic Explorer and glaciologist, for an exciting journey through some of the coldest and most remote places on Earth! Filled with breathtaking NatGeo images and thrilling stories of adventure, Dr. Jackson will take you along as she explores glaciers in the Arctic and Antarctic, shares tales of her expeditions, and explains how our changing climate is impacting these icy giants and the communities that rely on them. From backcountry science expeditions to working with explorers and filmmakers, Dr. Jackson's work brings science to life in amazing ways. This talk will delve into the science of glaciers, what they tell us about climate change, and why this matters to all of us—especially your generation. Expect to be inspired by real-world adventure stories, the incredible power of storytelling, and how you can get involved in the fight against climate change! Learn more at www.drmjackson.com
Sheila Watt-Cloutier
Environmental, Cultural, and Human Rights Advocate
Nobel Peace Prize nominee Sheila Watt-Cloutier is in the business of transforming public opinion into public policy. In 2007, Watt-Cloutier was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for her advocacy work in showing the impact of global climate change on human rights — especially in the Arctic, where it is felt more immediately, and more dramatically, than anywhere else in the world. Watt-Cloutier is an Officer of the Order of Canada, and the recipient of the Aboriginal Achievement Award, the UN Champion of the Earth Award, the Norwegian Sophie Prize, the Jack P. Blaney award for Dialogue, and the Right Livelihood Award, which is widely considered the "Nobel Alternative".
From 1995-2002, Watt-Cloutier was elected the Canadian President of the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC). She was later elected in 2002 to become the International Chair of the ICC, representing the 155,000 Inuit from Canada, Greenland, Alaska, and Russia — she held this post until 2006.
Widely recognized for her influential work, Watt-Cloutier gave a TEDx Talk in 2016 titled “Human Trauma and Climate Trauma as One”. She is also the author of the memoir, The Right to Be Cold: One Woman's Story of Protecting Her Culture, the Arctic and the Whole Planet, which was nominated for the 2016 BC National Award for Canadian Non-Fiction and the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing. In 2017, the book was shortlisted for CBC Canada Reads, defended by Chantal Kreviazuk. Watt-Cloutier was also shortlisted for the Kobo Emerging Writer Prize.
Re-Imagining a New Way Forward with Intention
“We must now speak environment, economy, foreign policy, health and human rights in the same breath,” says Sheila Watt-Cloutier. In this truly globe-spanning talk, Watt-Cloutier provides a clear, meaningful, and comprehensive understanding of the way these issues are interconnected, and what it means for the future of our planet. Speaking on leadership, she shows how your organization fits into the grand scheme of things, and organizations can fulfill their mandate by understanding how the local connects to the global, and vice versa.
With a focus on solutions, Watt-Cloutier brings the realities of the Arctic―where Inuit today face profound challenges to their environment, their economy, their health and their cultural well-being―to light. The challenges they face are clearly connected to the industries we support, the disposable world we have become, and the non-sustaining policies we create. Because her Inuit culture faces the most extreme challenges of globalization, Watt-Cloutier speaks from firsthand experience, and couples that with her extensive experiences as a global leader.
Drawing upon her ancient culture, and speaking from a position of strength, not victimhood, she helps audiences find common ground. Her Arctic voice–not as far away as we might imagine–enlightens and inspires. With inclusive good will, it bridges some extremely divided gaps around the world.