An Evening with “My Octopus Teacher” Filmmaker Craig Foster and Alizé Carrère
Thursday, May 16 @ 7:00 pm
265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables , United States
Books & Books Literary Foundation and the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine Atmospheric & Earth Science are thrilled to present an evening with Academy Award-winner Craig Foster discussing his new book: Amphibious Soul: Finding the Wild in a Tame World (HarperOne, $29.99). He will be in conversation with Alizé Carrère, and the duo will be introduced by Rosenstiel School Professor Danielle McDonald.
About the Book:
“An important book that will transform how we think about being human. … that will inspire hope.”—Jane Goodall
How can we reclaim the soul-deepening wildness that grounds us and energizes us when so much of the modern world seems designed to tame us?
In this thrilling memoir of a life spent exploring the most incredible places on Earth—from the Great African Seaforest to the crocodile lairs of the Okavango Delta—Craig Foster reveals how we can attend to the earthly beauty around us and deepen our love for all living things, whether we make our homes in the country, the city, or anywhere in between.
Foster explores his struggles to remain present to life when a disconnection from nature and the demands of his professional life begin to deaden his senses. And his own reliance on nature’s rejuvenating spiritual power is put to the test when catastrophe strikes close to home.
Foster’s lyrical, riveting Amphibious Soul draws on his decades of daily ocean dives, wisdom from Indigenous teachers, and leading-edge science.
About the Author:
Craig Foster is one of the world’s leading natural history filmmakers and co-founder of the Sea Change Project. He won the Academy Award for Best Documentary for My Octopus Teacher, and has created over 100 films and documentaries in addition to his photography. He lives in South Africa. More at https://seachangeproject.com/about/
About the Moderator:
Alizé Carrère is a scientist, filmmaker, and National Geographic Explorer, researching and documenting human adaptations to environmental change. Raised in a house wrapped around a 300-year-old oak tree, her childhood primed her for a unique perspective on what it means to live in a dynamic environment. After moving to Montreal to complete a B.A. at McGill University in Environmental Sciences and International Development, she spent time living in Panama before returning to McGill to complete an M.Sc. in Bioresource Engineering. During this time, she lived in the Middle East working on water resource management and electronic waste pollution between Israel and Palestine. In 2013, Alizé received support from National Geographic to conduct research in Madagascar, where she spent several months examining an unlikely agricultural adaptation in response to severe deforestation. Her work evolved into a greater story on creativity and resourcefulness in the face of profound landscape change, culminating in a four-part docuseries titled ADAPTATION that was released on PBS in 2021. Alizé recently completed her PhD at the University of Miami in Ecosystem Science & Policy. Her doctoral research focused on the relationship between architecture, climate change and urban utopias.
Danielle McDonald is a Professor of Marine Biology and Ecology and the Associate Dean of Research at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science. She is an expert in fish physiology and behavior with a focus on how physiology and behavior may change when exposed to environmental stressors such as pollution or low oxygen levels (hypoxia). Her work has important implications for environmental protection, as understanding how well fish tolerate changing environments allows one to advocate to policy makers. Her work also has important human health implications as studying aquatic animals can lead to exciting break-throughs in the understanding and/or treatment of human health and disease.
