Maureen Beck – Improbable Ascent

Wednesday, February 8, 6:30 – 8 p.m.

Paraclimber Maureen Beck learned how to rock climb one-handed through trial and error—one of her early adaptive climbing innovations involved taping a metal ladle to her arm. It wasn’t long before she was tackling some of the hardest climbs by a one-handed athlete, securing two world championships in the process. In her constant pursuit of new challenges, she journeyed to Canada’s Cirque of the Unclimbables to attempt the first unassisted adaptive climb of the Lotus Flower Tower. With her trademark humor and wit, this 2019 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year will chronicle her journey as one of the foremost leaders in the sport of paraclimbing.

Ami Vitale – Wild Hope

Wednesday, April 26, 6:30 – 8 p.m.

Photographer and filmmaker Ami Vitale shares her personal odyssey—from documenting the heartbreaking realities of war to witnessing the inspiring power of an individual to make a difference. Her award-winning work illuminates the unsung heroes and communities working to protect our wildlife and find harmony in our natural world. Hear her awe-inspiring stories of the reintroduction of northern white rhinos and giant pandas to the wild, as well as Kenya’s first indigenous-owned and run elephant sanctuary.

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Kakani Katija – Designed by Nature

Wednesday, October 11, 6:30 – 8 p.m.

A former member of the U.S. International Figure Skating Team, bioengineer Kakani Katija now studies the graceful movements of life below the surface. Join her for a fascinating look at one of the least explored ecosystems on our planet—the ocean’s midwaters—and learn how its inhabitants could lead to breakthroughs in bio-inspired design. As a certified research diver, Dr. Katija conducts field studies around the world, gathering data to help her develop technologies for exploring this ocean twilight zone and imagining—and creating—possibilities for the future.