On Sunday, November 3, Purdue University Northwest (PNW) hosted the third installment of the Sinai Forum’s 71st season on the PNW Westville campus. The evening’s speaker was National Geographic photographer and conservationist Joel Sartore. Sartore is the founder of the National Geographic Photo Ark, an ongoing project spanning 25 years that seeks to photograph every animal species. Attendees from all over the Region gathered in The Great Hall Events and Conference Center for Sartore’s presentation.
In 1953, Sylvia Bankoff, her husband Dr. Milton Bankoff, and Rabbi Karl Richter established the Sinai Forum to give the public access to town hall-style discussions with individuals hailing from a multitude of occupations. Their intention was to give members of the community the opportunity to engage in town hall-style conversations with speakers from various occupations and walks of life. Individuals like Walter Cronkite, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Gloria Steinem and Oprah Winfrey have been featured as Sinai Forum speakers over the years.
Sartore’s work includes images of insects, mammals, reptiles, birds, primates, amphibians, and rodents. Besides appearing in National Geographic Magazine, his animal photos have been displayed on the screens in Times Square and in the 2015 Louie Psihoyos film “Racing Extinction.” The year of its release, this film was projected onto the United Nations headquarters, the Empire State Building, and even the Vatican.
Sartore’s colorful brand of humor shone through as he outlined his photography career for the audience, presenting some of the comical photos he has taken of animals and his family over the years in his slideshow. He then proceeded to explain the premise of the Photo Ark. Sartore photographs the animals on either solid black or white backgrounds to prevent the viewer’s attention from being taken away from the animal.
“In the Photo Ark, we present all animals in the same size,” Sartore said. “In its photo, the elephant shrew, which can fit in the palm of my hand, appears to be just as large as the elephant is in its photo. That is because we want every animal, whether it’s large or small, to be seen and to have their voice heard as loudly as any other. These pictures are not made just to sit in an archive. They are made to be distributed to help save species, habitats, and, in the process, ourselves. I make my pictures entertaining because it’s my job to get your attention.”
Drawing from his vast knowledge of animals and ecosystems, Sartore stressed that people must work to preserve all life, especially since the extinction of some creatures, even some as seemingly insignificant as ants, could bring about the demise of our own species.
“Most species that are going extinct can be saved,” Sartore said. “However, it's going to require intention on our part. We're going to have to mean it and we can't constantly let things slide. We can't keep arguing about whether climate change is real or whether we need to save all the habitats that are left or not. There’s so much in nature for us to celebrate. They are still there and they can be saved, but we have to start paying attention to them. Getting people to start talking about nature is how we’re going to bring that change about.”
According to Sartore, there are a multitude of actions that one can take to help protect the planet.
“As you continue forward, think about what you can do to help,” Sartore said. “There are many things you can do. Helping plant a native prairie, making sure that feral dogs and cats have homes indoors, driving smaller cars, or insulating your home so it releases less carbon are all ways you can contribute. We all want to be able to look in the mirror and smile at the person we see, knowing that they are doing all they can. Please think about all the ways you can help and let’s get to work.”
Upon the presentation’s completion, the attendees enjoyed the provided refreshments, talked among themselves, or had their newly purchased copies of “Photo Ark: One Man’s Quest to Document the World’s Animals” autographed by Sartore.
You can learn more about the upcoming Sinai Forum sessions and Purdue University Northwest’s other projects and events by visiting pnw.edu.