Student Speaker Series Media: Keith Ladzinski
Over the past two decades, Keith Ladzinski has traveled widely throughout the seven continents to many of the planet's most remote and formidable locations documenting high altitude climbing expeditions, exploration, wildlife, scientific discovery, climate change and severe weather events. His passion for storytelling has earned him 12 National Geographic Assignments, three cover stories, and an Emmy nomination.
Notable and award winning stories include documenting the Great Lakes of North America, sauropod dinosaur discoveries in the African Sahara, storm chasing in Tornado Alley, the overharvesting of krill in Antarctica, and a wide range of climbing stories from Greenland, Mt. Everest, and Antarctica.
Whether battling katabatic winds, dangling from ropes above 8,000 feet to document the first ascent of Antarctica's tallest peak, trekking up Mount Everest, scaling ancient giant Redwoods, or navigating saltwater crocodiles in the floodplains of the Okavango, Keith goes to the extreme to capture the moment and share it with us. Celebrated as one of the most nimble nature, art, and commercial storytellers working today, Keith brings unparalleled nuance, sensitivity, and depth to his storytelling. Journey to the farthest reaches of our planet in this sweeping look at nature and man.
Visit Keith’s website to learn more about him and see some of his amazing photographs.
Learn even more about Keith at Changemaker Talent.
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Background Information
Articles and Books
Welch, Craig. “What's the Oldest Tree on Earth - and Will it Survive Climate Change?” National Geographic Magazine, National Geographic Society, 31 May 2022, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/whats-the-oldest-tree-on-earth-and-will-it-survive-climate-change. Accessed 13 Dec. 2023.
Folger, Tim. “North America’s Most Valuable Resource is at Risk.” National Geographic Magazine, National Geographic Society, 17 Nov. 2020, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/article/north-americas-most-valuable-resource-is-at-risk-feature. Accessed 13 Dec. 2023.
Nijhuis, Michelle. “How the Parks of Tomorrow Will Be Different.” National Geographic Magazine, National Geographic Society, Dec. 2016, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/article/national-parks-climate-change-rising-sea-weather. Accessed 13 Dec. 2023.
Ladzinski, Keith. “When Deadly Storms Arrive, Here’s Why We Run Toward Danger.” National Geographic Magazine, National Geographic Society, 14 Jan. 2020, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/article/when-deadly-storms-arrive-heres-why-we-run-toward-danger. Accessed 13 Dec. 2023.
Film and Video
“My Life As an Adventure Filmmaker and Photographer (Part 1) | Nat Geo Live.” YouTube, uploaded by National Geographic, 13 May 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j5TdORzgh0. Accessed 13 Dec. 2023.
“My Life As an Adventure Filmmaker and Photographer (Part 2) | Nat Geo Live.” YouTube, uploaded by National Geographic, 20 May 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtI7MsPIf-Y. Accessed 13 Dec. 2023.
“My Life As an Adventure Filmmaker and Photographer (Part 3) | Nat Geo Live.” YouTube, uploaded by National Geographic, 27 May 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9boacxCgiE. Accessed 13 Dec. 2023.
“Everglades In Peril / Alligator Dive BTS.” Vimeo, uploaded by 3 Strings, 30 Aug. 2016, https://vimeo.com/180772338. Accessed 13 Dec. 2023.
“The Karsts of China: A Vertical Journey.” Vimeo, uploaded by 3 Strings, 3 Jun. 2014, https://vimeo.com/97264893. Accessed 13 Dec. 2023.
“Untamed Antarctica.” Vimeo, uploaded by 3 Strings, 1 Sept. 2013, https://vimeo.com/73562547. Accessed 13 Dec. 2023.
“Keith Ladzinski: The Power of Versatility | #BHOPTIC.” YouTube, uploaded by B&H Photo Video Pro Audio, 8 Aug. 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiOwTQGfkSY. Accessed 13 Dec. 2023.
Websites
“See how the Great Lakes food web is in trouble.” National Geographic Magazine, National Geographic Society, 17 Nov. 2020, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/graphics/see-how-the-great-lakes-food-web-is-in-trouble?loggedin=true&rnd=1701184984557. Accessed 13 Dec. 2023.
“Great Lakes | U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit.” U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit, 9 Nov. 2022, https://toolkit.climate.gov/regions/great-lakes. Accessed 13 Dec. 2023.
“CLEAN: Committed to Climate and Energy Education.” CLEAN, 27 Nov. 2023, https://cleanet.org/index.html. Accessed 13 Dec. 2023.
“Invasive Species.” National Geographic, https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/resource-library-invasive-species/. Accessed 13 Dec. 2023.
“Introduction to Rock Climbing | TheCrag.” The Crag, 2020, https://www.thecrag.com/en/article/beginners. Accessed 13 Dec. 2023.
“Home - Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants.” Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants, 2023,
https://www.exploringbytheseat.com. Accessed 25 Oct. 2023.
Global Biodiversity Festival Year 4, Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants, 30 Aug. 2023,
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwKFsJZmdxpFfbyVWQ0_gCyWoXhGAqY3a.
Global Biodiversity Festival Year 3, Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants, 24 July. 2022,
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwKFsJZmdxpGryUYol9hbrpGZZmBhbO3G.
Global Biodiversity Festival Year 2, Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants, 20 July. 2023,
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwKFsJZmdxpEhK9d-PHhHQqQgdM-2Xay0.
Global Biodiversity Festival Year 1, Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants, 24 July. 2022,
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwKFsJZmdxpGLflfxa9I5lXsmBoDeRMD0.
“Save The Lakes! The Manitoba Museum.” YouTube, uploaded by Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants, 22 Sept. 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QARKK39iYg0. Accessed 13 Dec. 2023.
“Chasing Extreme Weather With George Kourounis.” YouTube, uploaded by Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants, 7 Mar. 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAqfrov43M0. Accessed 13 Dec. 2023.
“Climate Clues.” YouTube, uploaded by Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants, 7 Mar. 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUPj0jyDHJI. Accessed 13 Dec. 2023.
Activities
“Aquatic Invasive Species Education Project: Enrichment Activities.” Michigan Department of Natural Resources, https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/invasives/Documents/Outreach/AISEducationproject.pdf. Accessed 13 Dec. 2023.
“Tree Rings - Teachers (U.S. National Park Service).” National Park Service, 21 May 2015, https://www.nps.gov/teachers/classrooms/trerin.htm. Accessed 13 Dec. 2023.
“How does Climate Change Affect the Great Lakes?” Science Journal for Kids and Teens, https://sciencejournalforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/superior_lab_lesson.pdf. Accessed 13 Dec. 2023.
“Great Lakes Climate Change Curriculum.” Ohio Sea Grant, 9 May 2019, https://ohioseagrant.osu.edu/products/nykht/gl-climate-change-curriculum. Accessed 13 Dec. 2023.
“Harmful Algal Blooms - Climate Science for the Classroom.” University of Washington, 2019, https://uw.pressbooks.pub/climate/chapter/harmful-algal-blooms/. Accessed 13 Dec. 2023.
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
Interpreting Keith's photos. Download a pdf of Keith Ladzinski's photographs to discuss using the questions found in the Vital Impacts Educator Resources for Keith Ladzinski.
Read and Discuss
Elitsa. “How can we protect the seabed from storms?” Science Journal for Kids and Teens, Sept. 2022, https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-can-we-protect-the-seabed-from-storms/. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.
Elitsa. “What are the most dangerous places for sharks?” Science Journal for Kids and Teens, Feb. 2021, https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/what-are-the-most-dangerous-places-for-sharks/. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.