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Earth Optimism × Folklife features artists, artisans, and creators who are helping transform perceptions of nature and how to conserve it. Watch this conversation and learn from people who are using their art to inspire conservation of marine life, rainforests, and even spiders!

About the Participants

Joshua Tewksbury is an ecologist and evolutionary and conservation biologist, and the director of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. He holds a PhD in organismal biology and ecology from the University of Montana and served as professor of natural history at the University of Washington. Tewksbury launched the Luc Hoffman Institute in Switzerland and founded Anthropocene Magazine. Most recently, he directed the Colorado Global Hub of Future Earth.

Brian Masuga is a designer and illustrator. He, along with his wife Becky Masuga, are founding members of the conservation-minded company Peppermint Narwhal Creative. Masuga uses his artistic expression to promote greater awareness for animals and nature while encouraging the audience to be better, active stewards of the planet.

Peggy Oki is an environmental artist who has been working with schools and youth programs, empowering children of all ages (including adults) while raising awareness about the plight of whales and dolphins through visually powerful public environmental art projects and exhibits all over the world, including the Origami Whales Project that was initiated in 2004.

Tyler Thrasher is an artist, chemist, botanist, and explorer. He helps catalyze curiosity and share his enthusiasm to combine art and science and the joys of experimentation.

Robin Moore is the vice president of communications and marketing at Re:wild and blends his scientific training with his passion for photography and storytelling to connect a broad audience with the urgency and opportunity for saving endangered species and critical ecosystems. Moore is the author of In Search of Lost Frogs and a program lead of the signature initiative of Re:wild, The Search for Lost Species.