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Art, Science and Polar Bears
Lianna Nixon is an educator who blends science and art.
As a wildlife photographer and conservation storyteller, the Arctic isÌýLianna Nixon’s (Class’17; MEdu’21) second home. What began as a college expedition evolved into a career that blends art, science and education. From drifting on sea ice to counting polar bears, her adventures are as fascinating as they are meaningful.Ìý
Tell us about some of your Arctic adventures.Ìý
I first went to the Arctic in 2017 with Sea Legacy, a nonprofit organization run by two National Geographic photographers. Perhaps my most transformative Arctic photography and film experience was working on theÌýMOSAiC Expedition (the Multidisciplinary Drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate) while at CU.ÌýI was able to create connections about the Arctic climate system we see today, the experiences of scientists and the prowess of intersectional storytelling through visceral art-science narratives. While out on the ice floe, we were also visited by quite a few polar bears!
What are some things you work on now in the Arctic?Ìý
Six to eight weeks out of the year, I guide on expeditions out of Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago, photographing arctic wildlife. It’s not just about posting on Instagram — it’s being able to create conversations and share the beauty, vulnerability and importance of this region. My work is taken further into the scope of science and conservation outreach to be used in citizen science projects that observe wildlife behavior and other communication needs.ÌýÌý
What do you want people to take from your storytelling work?
My work focuses on applying new-age media, which includes photography, film, immersive 360-degree film and storytelling. When we humanize and bring different perspectives to abstract, difficult or polarizing topics, which is essentially the premise of climate science.Ìý
What motivated you to return to school for an education degree?
I always wanted to be a scientist, but my brain is programmed for art. That’s why I chose education — it’s a fantastic mediary space to bring those two together.
What are you doing when you aren’t in the Arctic?Ìý
I mainly do graphic design. My job has had to be very flexible with guiding, because I also hold my ownÌý a couple of weeks a year in Alaska, which allows people to view brown bears. The flexibility of my job is also due to the work of my husband,ÌýCasey VanCampenhout (Class’17), who is an F-15 fighter pilot. We’re stationed here in Vancouver,ÌýWashington. I’m also director ofÌý, a nonprofit which works with the Diné of the Navajo Nation located in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park to bring sustainable off-grid electrical and water resources to their homes.
Photo courtesy Lianna Nixon