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The Big Thaw: Ancient Carbon, Modern Science, and a Race to Save the World

Public Lecture Series with with Max Holmes & Chris Linder

Permafrost—dark, ice-flaked, permanently frozen ground that lies under tundra and boreal forests across our northern regions—covers more than 12 percent of the earth’s land surface. It exists in places that seem otherworldly and unimaginably remote to most of us, but the changes taking place in the permafrost layer may ultimately affect the lives of every person on Earth.

The permafrost layer contains a vast store of ancient carbon, more than four times the quantity found in all of today’s forests. It is like a ticking “carbon bomb”, releasing carbon dioxide and methane as the permafrost thaws. Braving hordes of mosquitoes, quicksand, and extreme temperatures, researchers are racing against the clock to educate us about the changes we must make to preserve Earth’s carbon balance.

Arctic scientist Max Holmes and photographer Chris Linder will share stories about their work studying and photographing thawing permafrost in Siberia and the Arctic. Their new book The Big Thaw: Ancient Carbon, Modern Science, and a Race to Save the World will be available for purchase and signing after the presentation.

Time: 6:00 pm Reception, 7:00 pm Program

Dr. Max Holmes is a deputy director and senior scientist at the Woods Hole Research Center. His work has contributed toward understanding the impacts of a changing climate on Arctic rivers, watersheds, and permafrost. Dr. Holmes directs the Arctic Great Rivers Observatory, and engages students in Arctic research through the Polaris Project. He has a BS. In Biology from the University of Texas at Austin, a MS in Biology from the University of Michigan, and a Ph.D. in Biogeochemistry from Arizona State University. Dr. Holmes and Chris Linder are both Fellows of The Explorers Club.

Chris Linder trained as an oceanographer before becoming a science photographer. He uses his skills to educate the public, communicate the need for protecting the wild, and inspire the next generation of researchers. His work has been featured in exhibits at the Field Museum and the Smithsonian, as well as in magazines worldwide. He is a member of the SeaLegacy Collective, a Senior Fellow in the International League of Conservation Photographers, and a member of the North American Nature Photography Association.











When: Mon., Jan. 27, 2020 at 7:00 pm
Where: The Explorers Club
46 E. 70th St.
212-628-8383
Price: $30
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Public Lecture Series with with Max Holmes & Chris Linder

Permafrost—dark, ice-flaked, permanently frozen ground that lies under tundra and boreal forests across our northern regions—covers more than 12 percent of the earth’s land surface. It exists in places that seem otherworldly and unimaginably remote to most of us, but the changes taking place in the permafrost layer may ultimately affect the lives of every person on Earth.

The permafrost layer contains a vast store of ancient carbon, more than four times the quantity found in all of today’s forests. It is like a ticking “carbon bomb”, releasing carbon dioxide and methane as the permafrost thaws. Braving hordes of mosquitoes, quicksand, and extreme temperatures, researchers are racing against the clock to educate us about the changes we must make to preserve Earth’s carbon balance.

Arctic scientist Max Holmes and photographer Chris Linder will share stories about their work studying and photographing thawing permafrost in Siberia and the Arctic. Their new book The Big Thaw: Ancient Carbon, Modern Science, and a Race to Save the World will be available for purchase and signing after the presentation.

Time: 6:00 pm Reception, 7:00 pm Program

Dr. Max Holmes is a deputy director and senior scientist at the Woods Hole Research Center. His work has contributed toward understanding the impacts of a changing climate on Arctic rivers, watersheds, and permafrost. Dr. Holmes directs the Arctic Great Rivers Observatory, and engages students in Arctic research through the Polaris Project. He has a BS. In Biology from the University of Texas at Austin, a MS in Biology from the University of Michigan, and a Ph.D. in Biogeochemistry from Arizona State University. Dr. Holmes and Chris Linder are both Fellows of The Explorers Club.

Chris Linder trained as an oceanographer before becoming a science photographer. He uses his skills to educate the public, communicate the need for protecting the wild, and inspire the next generation of researchers. His work has been featured in exhibits at the Field Museum and the Smithsonian, as well as in magazines worldwide. He is a member of the SeaLegacy Collective, a Senior Fellow in the International League of Conservation Photographers, and a member of the North American Nature Photography Association.

Buy tickets/get more info now