BY KAREN BOSSICK
Robert Swan is the first polar traveler to walk to both the North and South Poles, earning his place alongside the greatest explorers of history.
He experienced the effects of climate change first hand on those trips as the oceanic ice melted prematurely due to climate change and his eyes permanently changed color due to prolonged UV exposure under the hole in the ozone layer.
Swan will talk about the commitment he made to ensure the preservation of the Antarctica at this year’s Sun Valley Forum being held at the Limelight Hotel.
The forum will kick off on July 5 with an opening reception and dinner. It will feature forum sessions on July 6 and 7 and end with an adventure day on July 8.
Early bird pricing runs through June 27.
“This is our third year and I think this year it’s more important than ever for all of us to choose to learn and strategize about what more we can do,” said Aimee Christensen, executive director of the Sun Valley Institute, which puts on the forum. “We’ll have speakers and innovators and leaders we can learn from. We will learn from some incredible outside leaders who are innovators in areas like water technology and growing food, and we will highlight local leaders, such as mountain biker Rebecca Rusch.
In addition to Swan, this year’s speakers will include Robert Bernard, chief environmental strategist for Microsoft; Mike Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club; Jeff Goodell, contributing editor of “Rolling Stone;” Jake Moe, founder of “Powder Magazine,” and Louie Schwartzberg, a cinematographer, who does breathtaking imagery using time-lapse, high-speed and macro cinematography techniques.
Schwartzberg’s recent theatrical releases include the 3D IMAX film “Mysteries of the Unseen World” with National Geographic, and “Wings of Life” for Disneynature. His three TED talks have gone viral, attracting 50 million combined views.
The idea behind the forum is to inspire, inform, connect and catalyze with a goal of building greater resilience for the Sun Valley community and the world at large.
For more information, go to www.sunvalleyforum.com.