Photograph by Wade Davis
Photograph by Wade Davis
One of the world’s most celebrated and distinguished anthropologists, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Wade Davis has become one of the world’s leading crusaders for the protection of the “ethnosphere,” his term for the totality of thoughts, beliefs, myths, and institutions brought into being by the human imagination. His many books and films have provided the intellectual basis for the growing movement to celebrate traditional cultures around the world.
Recently, Davis starred in the 3-D IMAX documentary film, Grand Canyon Adventures, which follows Davis and Robert Kennedy, Jr. as they navigate the Colorado River with their daughters, raising awareness of the environmental threats facing rivers worldwide. He has also contributed to a film called In Search of One River, adapted from his book about his Harvard mentor, Amazonian plant explorer Richard Evans Schultes, who conducted pioneering studies of plant use by the native peoples of the Amazon. And in 2008 Davis wrote, co-produced, and hosted Peyote to LSD, an award-winning, two-hour documentary on the history of psychedelics, from their traditional use by indigenous groups to the drug culture of the 1960s and beyond.
Popular Presentation
The Wayfinders: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in a Modern World
Indigenous human cultures are going extinct faster than many plants and animals. Fully 50 percent of the more than 6,000 languages spoken today will cease to exist in our lifetime. With them will go the knowledge, stories, customs, and footprints of entire cultures. Davis leads us on an enlightening and gripping journey through ancient worlds, demonstrating how our world is richer for their presence and contributions.
Learn More About Wade:
IMAX: Grand Canyon Adventure Film
Smithsonian Channel: Light at the Edge of the World
“With only the simple instruments of his voice and his passion, Davis weaves a cloak that allows us to imagine for a moment the world as it might be seen through the indigenous imagination. It’s a deft feat and it transforms the literature of grievance, so familiar now, to a literature of love and almost celestial appreciation. He is our very own Massey shaman, breathing life into fragile worlds that are rapidly growing extinct, worlds that mark the boundary of the human imagination.” – CBC Radio
Listen to Radio Interview With Wade Davis
Boyd Matson Interviews Wade for NG Weekend Radio Show
Listen to Wade Davis address sell-out audiences in the 2009 Massey Lectures, held in venues across Canada.
With stunning photos and stories, National Geographic Explorer Wade Davis celebrates the extraordinary diversity of the world’s indigenous cultures, which are disappearing from the planet at an alarming rate.
Thank you for your interest in the Speakers Bureau! Your request has been sent.
Oops! Something Went Wrong
To Submit a booking directly, please contact:
National Geographic Speakers Bureau
(202 775-7800)
speakers@ngs.org
| Speaker name |
|---|
No Result
Experience the wonder of deep-sea exploration through Ballard and his Institute for Exploration, which uses robotics, mapping, and submersibles to explore the last great frontier.
Learn More
In her presentation “Connect With Anybody, Anywhere” Belt shares her experiences as a journalist bridging cultural, racial, and religious divides. A passionate conservationist, Belt’s recent project with author Barbara Kingsolver aims to help save the last wild spaces in the United States.
Learn More
Thirty years after the discovery of the fossil specimen Lucy, Johanson remains a towering figure in the study of human origins.
Learn MoreHire a National Geographic speaker for your event.
Meet Our SpeakersBook a distinctive setting for your event.
Learn About Our VenueBring an exhibition to your institution.
View Available ExhibitionsBook a film program or photography exhibit.
Learn MoreTouring floor maps bring memorable education to students.
See Our Maps
