Student Speaker Series Media: Ronan Donovan

National Geographic Explorer Ronan Donovan is a wildlife biologist turned conservation photographer. He uses visual storytelling to illuminate stories related to our fellow social mammals to remind us that we are all connected. Ronan embeds for months at a time, year after year, with wild families of wolves, chimpanzees, and mountain gorillas to capture imagery that highlights our shared challenges, behaviors, and family bonds.

Visit Ronan's to learn more about her and see some of his amazing photographs.     

Learn even more about Ronan at Changemaker Talent

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Background Information

These links have been compiled as a companion to the Vital Impacts Student Speaker Series Educator Resources here. Click here to download the full educator resources packet.

Articles and Books

“Wolves: Photography by Ronan Donovan - An Educational Companion.” National Geographic, https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/wolves-maps/. Accessed 6 Nov. 2023. 

Donovan, Ronan. “Chimps and Humans in Conflict.” ArcGIS StoryMaps, 31 May 2023, https://arcg.is/191jTK1. Accessed 6 Nov. 2023.

Donovan, Ronan. “Human-Predator Coexistence Project.” ArcGIS StoryMaps, 9 Jan. 2023, https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/91d898fa1e554ea1a44c98005346e443. Accessed 6 Nov. 2023.

Peterson, Christine. “25 Years After Returning to Yellowstone, Wolves Have Helped Stabilize the Ecosystem.” National Geographic Magazine, National Geographic Society, 10 Jul. 2020, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/
yellowstone-wolves-reintroduction-helped-stabilize-ecosystem. Accessed 6 Nov. 2023.

 

Film and Video

“Photographing the Wild Wolves of Yellowstone | Exposure.” YouTube, uploaded by National Geographic, 30 Apr. 2016, https://youtu.be/6AynjXLI9PE. Accessed 6 Nov. 2023.

Donovan, Ronan. “Yellowstone Wolf Dynasty - The Pack.” YouTube, uploaded by Ronan Donovan, 8 Jan. 2020, https://youtu.be/JqsXAcNW2uI. Accessed 6 Nov. 2023.

“What Is It Like to Live With Wolves? | Ronan Donovan | Storytellers Summit 2020.” YouTube, uploaded by National Geographic Society, 6 Feb. 2020, https://youtu.be/UVMOdBinSjA. Accessed 6 Nov. 2023.

Donovan, Ronan. “Earth’s Tapestry.” Vimeo, uploaded by Think Less, 7 Apr. 2023, https://vimeo.com/815669756. Accessed 6 Nov. 2023.

Donovan, Ronan. “Empathy through Photography - Ronan Donovan, National Geographic Explorer.” Vimeo, uploaded by WWF Fuller Fund, 13 Dec. 2017, https://vimeo.com/815669756. Accessed 6 Nov. 2023.

Websites

“Food Chains and Webs.” National Geographic, https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/resource-library-food-
chains-and-webs/. Accessed 6 Nov. 2023. 

“Learn about the Park - Yellowstone National Park (U.S. National Park Service).” National Park Service, Sept. 2019, https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/index.htm. Accessed 5 Nov. 2023.

“CHCC - Center for Human-Carnivore Coexistence.” Center for Human-Carnivore Coexistence, Colorado State University, https://sites.warnercnr.colostate.edu/centerforhumancarnivorecoexistence/. Accessed 22 Oct. 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.

Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants, 30 Aug. 2023, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwKFsJZmdxpFfbyVWQ0_gCyWoXhGAqY3a.

Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants, 24 July. 2022, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwKFsJZmdxpGryUYol9hbrpGZZmBhbO3G.

Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants, 20 July. 2023, https://www.youtube.com/
playlist?list=PLwKFsJZmdxpEhK9d-PHhHQqQgdM-2Xay0.

Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants, 24 July. 2022, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwKFsJZmdxpGLflfxa9I5lXsmBoDeRMD0.

“Yellowstone to Yukon | Protecting North America’s Greatest Wildlife Corridor.” YouTube, uploaded by Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants, 24 Nov. 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRZB6KaRhIg. Accessed 6 Nov. 2023.

“Banff National Park | Bison Part One.” YouTube, uploaded by Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants, 26 Oct. 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ltrKejA6Ns. Accessed 6 Nov. 2023.

“Banff National Park | Bison Part Two.” YouTube, uploaded by Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants, 26 Oct. 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCKZSjSqIp4. Accessed 6 Nov. 2023.

Activities

“Gray Wolf Educator Guide.” National Geographic, https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/gray-wolf-educator-
guide/. Accessed 6 Nov. 2023.

“Wolves of Yellowstone | Lesson Plan | PBS Learning Media.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, https://mass.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/331db173-a528-46ae-985c-e2432ebc6dc2/wolves-of-yellowstone-teacher-guide. Accessed 6 Nov. 2023.

“Exploring Trophic Cascades.” HHMI Biointeractive, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 13 Sept. 2016, https://mass.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/331db173-a528-46ae-985c-e2432ebc6dc2/wolves-of-yellowstone-teacher-guide. Accessed 6 Nov. 2023.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Interpreting Ronan's photos. Download a pdf of Ronan Donovan's photographs to discuss using the questions found in the Vital Impacts Educator Resources for Ronan Donovan.  

Read and Discuss

National Geographic, https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/wolves-maps/. Accessed 6 Nov. 2023.

Elitsa. “Resolving human-wildlife conflict – a role-play lesson.” Science Journal for Kids and Teens, 27 Aug. 2021, https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/lesson-ideas/resolving-human-wildlife-conflict/. Accessed 6 Nov. 2023. 

Donovan, Ronan. “Human-Predator Coexistence Project.” ArcGIS StoryMaps, 9 Jan. 2023, https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/91d898fa1e554ea1a44c98005346e443. Accessed 6 Nov. 2023.

Donovan, Ronan. “Chimps and Humans in Conflict.” ArcGIS StoryMaps, 31 May 2023, https://arcg.is/191jTK1. Accessed 6 Nov. 2023.

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