‘Chasing Ice’ Photographer James Balog Visiting Campus to Talk Climate Change

When a piece of glacier three miles wide—roughly the size of lower Manhattan—is caught on video falling apart into the ocean, people take notice. That event, the largest glacier calving ever caught on camera, is featured in Chasing Ice, a documentary film that follows photographer James Balog on his quest to capture film evidence of the shrinking of Arctic glaciers.

Balog will be on campus Friday, April 4, to screen Chasing Ice and provide insight on climate change made evident through his research. The event, presented by the Beard Institute and co-sponsored by the Center for Environmental Research and Education and the Heinz Awards, will be held at 8 a.m. in the Power Center Ballroom.

Balog is the founder of the Extreme Ice Survey, a long-term photographic study of Arctic glaciers that examines the effects of global climate change on landscapes. Using 30 time-lapse cameras on three continents, Balog and his team compress years of video footage into seconds to reveal the disappearance of mountains of ice. Through this work, Balog has witnessed the changing planet firsthand.

“James Balog has a message about respecting the environment that is meaningful,” said Bill O’Rourke, executive director of the Beard Institute. “What he has to share is eye-opening, but it inspires us to live sustainably in a way that respects our natural resources.”

A decorated photographer and avid mountaineer, Balog has been featured in National Geographic, on PBS’s NOVA, in The New Yorker, Life, American Photo and Vanity Fair, and his work has been exhibited in more than 100 museums and galleries.

In addition, the Beard Institute’s Green to Gold award will be presented to American Express during the event. The annual award recognizes an American company that demonstrates commercial success in sustainable business practices.

Registration for the event is $45 per person and $25 for students. The cost includes a buffet breakfast. Reservations can be made by visiting www.duq.edu/chasing-ice.