Experiencing Crittercam

In 2007 thousands flocked to the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C. to experience a remarkable exhibit and observe the natural world from a whole new perspective. The National Geographic Crittercam exhibit celebrated the pioneering scientific tool, invented by Greg Marshall, that shows us the world through animal eyes.

More than 68,000 visitors came to the museum to experience Crittercam during the exhibit’s four-month run, captivated by interactive displays, evocative environments, and mesmerizing firsthand footage of such diverse species as seals and sea lions, sharks, penguins, sea turtles, whales, and land animals. As well as providing a visually stunning experience, Crittercam offered insights into animal behavior and provided clues about how to protect these creatures and the world we share. After its successful run at the National Geographic Museum, Crittercam has begun a five-year national and international tour, granting thousands more people around the world the opportunity to share an animal’s view of our planet.

Take a virtual tour with Crittercam at nationalgeographic.org/crittercam.

Expanding NG Live!

The National Geographic Live! series recently added two new venues. In June, NG Live! announced expansion to Phoenix, in partnership with the Mesa Arts Center, Arizona’s premier performing arts complex, for an annual four-part speaker series. In September, the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts announced NG Live!’s participation in the 2008 inaugural season of the Brinker International Forum. NG Live! will provide two speakers for the Center’s 2008-09 season—Explorers-in-Residence Beverly and Dereck Joubert and Genographic Project Director Dr. Spencer Wells.

With the addition of Phoenix and Dallas, NG Live! now reaches audiences in six cities. Patrons enjoy live concerts, films, and dynamic presentations by today’s leading explorers, and through NG Live! student matinees, thousands of young people are exposed to powerful role models for exploration and conservation.

For current NG Live! events visit nglive.org.

Sharing Stories Through All Roads

The All Roads Film Project presented its 4th annual film festival with outstanding films, photography, and music representing indigenous and minority cultures from around the world.

Films created with the help of funding by All Roads seed grants are beginning to garner international recognition through screenings at the Sundance, Rotterdam, Berlin, and Cannes film festivals, where they are receiving accolades for their artistry. Three films produced by All Roads seed grantees premiered and screened at Sundance in 2007— Miss Navajo (Billy Luther, 2006), Four Sheets to the Wind (Sterlin Harjo, 2006), and Make A Wish (Cherien Dabis, 2005).

All Roads photographers were featured in Americanphotomag.com, and Newsha Tavakolian became the first All Roads photographer (2006) to receive a National Geographic magazine co-assignment.

Watch clips from All Roads films at nationalgeographic.org/allroads.

Showcasing Missions in the Media

The issue of climate change was front and center in Mission Programs’ 2007 media and outreach. The National Geographic short film A Way Forward: Confronting Climate Change debuted at the UN to the largest gathering of world leaders ever held on the topic. The viral video “This Bulb” lit up YouTube and nationalgeographic.com, encouraging people to switch from incandescent bulbs to CFLs. And the film Arctic Tale offered compelling stories of polar animals threatened by the rapid warming of their home. Inspired to make a difference for these remarkable creatures, National Geographic launched the Polar Fund to support research, conservation, and education projects spanning both poles.

The environmentally focused work of Society grantees continues to fascinate millions of people weekly on Wild Chronicles, which airs on PBS in English and Spanish. “Climate Connections,” the award-winning Mission Programs partnership with NPR, brings worldwide stories of climate change to a weekly national radio audience of more than ten million.

Get the latest Wild Chronicles podcasts at nationalgeographic.org/wildchronicles.

Additional photo credits: Background Image: Ralph Lee Hopkins; Main Story, top to bottom: Ralph Lee Hopkins, Birgit Buehler, Courtesy Mesa Arts Center, Børge Ousland, Courtesy of All Roads Film Project.