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New York Times
25-04-2025
- Science
- New York Times
A Visit to Alaska Inspires a Climate Change Exhibit in Connecticut
Daniel Ksepka, the curator of science at the Bruce Museum here, visited Fairbanks, Alaska, in May 2022 for a research project on fossil birds. But Ksepka, a paleontologist by training, found himself more drawn to the city's drunken forest — an unusual landscape of tilting trees — instead. 'The trees were leaning in seemingly random directions because the permafrost underneath the soil was thawing from increasingly warmer temperatures,' he said. 'They were slumping as a result of not having a firm base. It almost felt like being in a bomb crater.' Ksepka said that the setting illustrated the dramatic impact of global warming and profoundly affected him. 'I couldn't get the sight out of my head,' he said. 'Back home, I started looking into other the ways that climate change is shaping the Alaskan landscape through the de-stabilization of permafrost, changing vegetation patterns and loss of ice.' That trip and the drunken forest are the impetus for the Bruce's exhibition 'On Thin Ice: Alaska's Warming Wilderness,' curated by Ksepka. It opened March 6 and will be on view until Oct. 19. 'It made a lot of sense to me to focus specifically on Alaska because it is on the front line in terms of climate change,' Ksepka said, in interviews by phone and video. 'Research has documented that air temperatures in Alaska are rising twice as fast as in other parts of the United States.' According to Ksepka, what happens in Alaska will affect everyone no matter where they live because its 'permafrost stores unimaginably large amounts of carbon.' Taxidermy animals in the exhibit — 17 in all — represent the wildlife that inhabits Alaska's wilderness and are the star attraction of 'On Thin Ice.' 'I wanted to show some of the animals threatened by global warming because they rely on these habitats to survive,' Ksepka said. 'They also bring in an emotional component to the damage it causes.' A combination of pieces from the Bruce's permanent collection and loans from the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium in Saint Johnsbury, Vt., the animals include a brown muskox, a gnarly-looking creature covered in shaggy hair that resembles a bison, and a snow fox, a mammal with short ears that changes its fur color from white to a grayish-brown, depending on the time of year. The most majestic animal may be Charlie, a polar bear donated to the Bruce by SeaWorld in 2019 after his death. Weighing 948 pounds, Charlie is emblematic of the Arctic, Ksepka said. 'When you think of Alaska or any other Arctic environment, polar bears come to mind,' he said. On a recent weekday afternoon, a small crowd, including school groups, families with young children and couples, studied the parade of wildlife and paused to snap pictures of their favorites. Charlie drew the most 'oohs and aahs.' Roberta Tunick, a retired publisher who lives in Greenwich and is a museum regular, was among the attendees and brought her three young grandchildren along. She said that she wanted to educate them about the environment in an engaging way. 'They're fascinated by the animals and asking me questions about them,' she said. 'I'm reading a lot about climate change, and this exhibit brings it to life.' Models of the landscapes where the animals live are also part of the show. 'One of the things I love to do in exhibitions is look at things from different scales, because it helps you tell a more compelling story that viewers can understand,' Ksepka said. 'The landscape models illustrate startling phenomena such as the 'browning' of the breathtaking spruce and birch forests due to climate-driven factors like forest fires.' The Bruce's exhibition artist, Sean Murtha, created the depictions using materials such as plaster, clay, paint and epoxy resin. Charlie poses, for instance, next to a swath of sea ice because polar bears hunt for food by standing on it and ambushing seals when they come to the surface to breathe. In another example, the tundra wolf is displayed next to the notorious Harry Potter Lake, in northern Alaska. 'The lake drained in a single day in 2022 because of the melting permafrost, and many animals, including the tundra wolf, relied on it for drinking water,' Ksepka said. As for the spruce and birch forest model, several animals, such as the black bear, the moose and the snowshoe hare, call it home. Judging by the line of children impatiently waiting to play with the interactive displays included in 'On Thin Ice,' younger audiences aren't left out of the fun. They can touch animal fur, identify footprints and listen to the sounds of five species: muskox, polar bears, moose, arctic fox and caribou. Like the Bruce, a growing number of museums are exploring climate change in their exhibitions, said Mallika Talwar, who advises museums on how to engage audiences with climate change and is the deputy director of partnerships for the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, a research center at Yale School of the Environment. 'We've found that many Americans want to learn about climate change through visiting museums because museums are a trusted source of information in a low-trust era,' she said. 'A growing number, including ones that focus on art and history, are feeling the responsibility to communicate on the topic as the impacts of it worsen.' Talwar cited a 2020 survey conducted in collaboration between the Yale program and the Wild Center, a natural history museum in Tupper Lake, N.Y., of its museum goers. The results found that an overwhelming majority were concerned about climate change and led to the Wild Center's ongoing show, 'Climate Solutions.' Other exhibitions on the topic are ever more prevalent. They include 'Climate of Hope,' at the Natural History Museum of Utah, which delves into climate change in the state, and 'Climate Action Heroes' at the National Children's Museum in Washington, D.C., which uses a gamelike approach to help children find a 'climate action superpower.' Climate change exhibitions may not be new, but their scope has changed, according to Stephanie Shapiro, a co-founder and managing director of Environment & Culture Partners, a nonprofit that advises and collaborates with the cultural sector on becoming more sustainable. 'They've been going on for at least a decade, but today, they are much more common and expansive,' she said. Shapiro noted that many, such as 'Climate of Hope,' have an eye on the local environment, while larger museums typically put a lens on global warming as a whole. She added that climate change exhibitions are also more action-oriented than in the past: 'They aim to not just educate, but to actually inspire people to take actions to be more sustainable.' To that point, 'On Thin Ice' ends with a digital interactive display at which visitors can pledge an action to shrink their carbon footprint. They can choose to ride a bike instead of drive, for example, eat one vegetarian meal a week to save a significant amount of carbon a year, or buy an electric car. Kspeka said that the display is meant to illustrate how anyone can play a role in minimizing environmental damage. 'Collectively, all our efforts will add up,' he said.
CBC
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
From Earth Week wonders to gripping crime dramas, April comes alive with breathtaking programs
April kicks off with a celebration of Earth Day, featuring two breathtaking documentaries that inspire hope for our planet's future. Blue Carbon: Nature's Hidden Power unveils the remarkable ways communities are restoring coastal ecosystems, blending science and storytelling into a symphony of nature's resilience. Wilding takes you on an extraordinary journey with a couple who risked everything to let nature reclaim their 400-year-old estate, proving that the wild has a unique way of healing itself. Beyond Earth Day, this month's lineup delivers gripping true stories that will leave you on the edge of your seat. On Thin Ice: Putin v Greenpeace follows a high-stakes showdown between environmental activists and the Russian government, unfolding into an international legal battle. Series Under the Bridge is a haunting dramatization of a shocking British Columbia murder that continues to cast a long shadow over its community. And in the podcast Aftermath: Hunt for the Anthrax Killer, investigators race to unmask the person behind the deadly anthrax-laced letters that terrorized the U.S. after 9/11. All this and more in CBC's Top 5 for April. Blue Carbon: Nature's Hidden Power - Watch Free April 11 on CBC Gem Told through the eyes of Grammy-nominated DJ and marine biologist, Jayda Guy - known by her DJ name Jayda G - and accompanied by a score from the Wu-Tang Clan's RZA and featuring Seu Jorge, Blue Carbon is an environmental feature documentary that spins music, science and an appreciation for world culture into a vibrant call to action to protect the planet. Blue carbon refers to coastal habitats – like mangroves, salt marshes and sea grass – that soak up copious amounts of planet-warming carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, while protecting coastal communities from rising seas and powerful storms. The film is a clear-eyed look at what's at stake and offers tangible solutions – and hope – to boost nature's ability to heal itself. Wilding - Watch Free April 16 on CBC Gem Based on Isabella Tree's best-selling book by the same title, Wilding tells the story of a young couple who bets on nature for the future of their failing, 400-year-old estate. The young couple battles entrenched tradition and dares to place the fate of their farm in the hands of nature. Ripping down the fences, they set the land back to the wild and entrust its recovery to a motley mix of animals, both tame and wild. It is the beginning of a grand experiment that will become one of the most significant rewilding experiments in Europe. On Thin Ice: Putin Vs. Greenpeace - Watch Free April 18 on CBC Gem In 2013 Greenpeace sailed to the Arctic to peacefully protest against Russian offshore drilling for oil, but the response from the Russian state was more than they bargained for. Threatened, illegally boarded, arrested and accused of piracy, the protesters face 15 years in Russia's merciless prison system. Can an international media campaign help secure their release? Under The Bridge - Watch Free April 18 on CBC Gem Based on acclaimed author Rebecca Godfrey's book, about the 1997 true story of 14-year-old Reena Virk (Vritika Gupta) who went to join friends at a party and never returned home. Through the eyes of Godfrey (Riley Keough) and a local police officer (Lily Gladstone), the series takes us into the hidden world of the young girls accused of the murder, revealing startling truths about the unlikely killer. PODCAST Listen Free starting April 2 on CBC Listen and everywhere podcasts are available In the wake of 9/11, anthrax-laced letters unleashed a new wave of terror across the United States. But who was behind the attacks — and why has the country nearly forgotten this story? As government buildings shut down and law enforcement scrambled to track the perpetrator, the FBI launched one of the largest and most complex investigations in its history. Untangling a web of scientific evidence and false leads, the case took unexpected turns with lasting consequences. From Wolf Entertainment, USG Audio, Dig Studios and CBC, this eight-part series grants unprecedented access to declassified materials and firsthand accounts, revealing how the anthrax attacks reshaped America — and the hidden impact that still lingers today. Looking for your next entertainment fix? CBC Gem has you covered with a lineup of must-watch series, free to stream. Wellington Paranormal (April 4): New Zealand's hit workplace comedy follows a pair of delightfully clueless cops as they investigate supernatural shenanigans around town. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Season 3 – April 4, Season 4 – April 25): Midge is back, funnier and fiercer than ever, as she fights to be taken seriously in the unpredictable world of show biz. Justified (Season 6 – April 11): The stakes are higher than ever in the thrilling final season of this neo-Western crime drama. Don't miss how it all ends.
Associated Press
27-02-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Scott Hagizadegan's Latest Cybersecurity Book Becomes an Amazon Best-Seller
Scott Hagizadegan, CEO and Founder of Shield IT Networks, has once again secured Amazon Best-Seller status with his latest book, 'Your Firm's Reputation & Future Are At Stake!' following the success of his previous best-selling cybersecurity book, 'On Thin Ice.' Hagizadegan continues to educate CPA firm leaders and law firm leaders on the ever-growing digital threats facing their industries. 'This book was written specifically for CPA and law firm leaders to help them understand the cybersecurity risks that could cost them their reputation, clients, and financial security,' said Hagizadegan. 'Achieving Best-Seller status on Amazon again is a testament to how critical this topic is right now.' Hagizadegan added, 'Cybersecurity is not something firms can afford to address after an attack happens. Being proactive instead of reactive is the key to protecting your firm's reputation and financial stability.' 'Your Firm's Reputation & Future Are At Stake!' climbed Amazon's rankings in multiple cybersecurity and business categories, solidifying its position as a must-read for law firms and CPA firms looking to safeguard their organizations. The book provides a practical, real-world breakdown of cyber risks and actionable steps firms can take to mitigate vulnerabilities. With cyber-crime on the rise, law and accounting firms are recognizing the importance of proactive security measures, making this book a timely resource for firm leaders handling sensitive client data. Shield IT Networks remains at the forefront of cybersecurity, offering solutions to help CPA and law firms stay ahead of evolving threats. Through his books and leadership, Hagizadegan continues to empower firms of all sizes to strengthen their security posture and protect their future. 'Your Firm's Reputation & Future Are At Stake!' is now available for purchase on Amazon. As part of Shield IT Networks' commitment to cybersecurity awareness, they are giving away 20 free copies exclusively to CPA and law firm leaders in the U.S. Visit to submit your request for a complimentary copy while supplies last.
