Eric Pallant
Eric Pallant is the author of Sourdough Culture: The History of Bread Making from Ancient to Modern Bakers. He is a serious amateur baker, a two-time Fulbright Scholar, double, award-winning professor, and the Christine Scott Nelson Endowed Professor of Environmental Science and Sustainability at Allegheny College. He is acknowledged for his skill in weaving research narratives into compelling stories for the Gresham Lecture Series, London, bread symposia, podcasts, and articles for magazines such as Gastronomica, Sierra, and Science.
3 words to describe Nature?
Surprising. Restorative. Necessary
3 things Nature taught you?
Nature is better than engineers at managing ecosystem functions.
Nature is everywhere and needs to be available to everyone, not restricted to wilderness jaunts reserved for privileged, white, and wealthy people.
Appreciating Nature, like appreciating most things in life, takes time. It cannot be rushed.
3 most treasured Nature spots?
Wellfleet Harbor, Cape Cod, MA.
My compost pile
My sourdough starters
When you look at the OCEAN, it makes you feel...?
Relaxed
When you see a FOREST, it makes you feel...?
Tiny
When you see a VOLCANO, it makes you feel...?
Heart thumpingly excited. I’ve actually walked up to the lava in a couple of active volcanoes.
When you see a SUNRISE or SUNSET, it makes you feel...?
Patient
When you hear THUNDER, it makes you feel...?
Happy
When you hear the WIND HOWLING, it makes you feel...?
Also happy. I love wind!
Are you an OCEAN, MOUNTAIN, FOREST, or DESERT person?
Ocean. No question!
On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is Nature to your well-being?
8
Share with us a childhood nature memory?
I spent countless childhood hours digging holes with my hands under the porch in my suburban backyard. I was searching for arrowheads and fossils. I found many, probably none of which were real. But I have remained fascinated by soil ever since. I now understand that beyond the tiny invertebrates I encountered, soil contains more living things than anyplace on earth and represents the profound junction of earth’s biosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere.
Dianne Dain
Dianne Dain is the Chief Innovation Officer for the World Humanitarian Forum and a member of the WHO Innovation team. Recognized globally as a thought leader on women's influence and empowerment, sustainable tech, and social innovations, Dain is the co-founder of COPXX and an Honorary Professor at the Wise Center for Economic Justice at Glasgow Caledonia University. Additionally, she is the President of The Singer Foundation. Prior to these roles, Dianne was with the United Nations Secretariat where she lead the UN Reboot Accelerator for youth crowdsourcing and participated in the creation of the global network of UN Technology Innovation Labs (UNTIL). In 2010 she was named National Mother of America
3 words to describe Nature?
Majestic. Creator. Home
3 things Nature taught you?
Perspective
Humility
Gratitude
3 most treasured Nature spots?
Scottish Highlands
Palos Verdes Peninsula beaches
Waipio Valley, Hawaii
When you look at the OCEAN, it makes you feel...?
Eternally grateful for the rhythm and heartbeat of the universe
When you see a FOREST, it makes you feel...?
Grounded and connected to ancient wisdom
When you see a VOLCANO, it makes you feel...?
Humbled by the power and fire living within the earth Is walk upon
When you see a SUNRISE or SUNSET, it makes you feel...?
Thankful I am alive and get to see another day begin or end
When you hear THUNDER, it makes you feel...?
Liberated from humans, worshipful of the power of the universe
When you hear the WIND HOWLING, it makes you feel...?
Exhilarated and energized that the air
Are you an OCEAN, MOUNTAIN, FOREST, or DESERT person?
Forest and Ocean
On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is Nature to your well-being?
10
Share with us a childhood nature memory?
My earliest memories are of being born looking for a connection to my environment. I was conceived during a surf lesson and abandoned as a baby at the Salvation Army. As a child, I would sit on the hillside overlooking the ocean and wonder how I came to be here and why. I spent hours alone on the hills because I intuitively felt most at home with the earth. She was my mother and nurtured me through a lack of strong human connections and identity as a child.
Shawna Pandya
Dr. Shawna Pandya is a physician, scientist-astronaut candidate program graduate with the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences/Project PoSSUM, aquanaut, speaker, martial artist, advanced diver, skydiver, pilot-in-training, VP Immersive Medicine with Luxsonic Technologies, Director of Medical Research at Orbital Assembly Construction, and Fellow of the Explorers’ Club. She is also Director of the International Institute of Astronautical Sciences (IIAS)/PoSSUM Space Medicine Group, Chief Instructor of the IIAS/PoSSUM Operational Space Medicine course, a clinical lecturer at the University of Alberta, podcast host with the World Extreme Medicine’s WEMCast series, Primary Investigator (PI) for the Shad Canada-Blue Origin student microgravity competition, member of the ASCEND 2021 Guiding Coalition, and Life Sciences Team Lead for the Association of Spaceflight Professionals. She serves as a medical advisor to several space, medical and technology companies. Dr. Pandya was part of the first crew to test a commercial spacesuit in zero-gravity in 2015. She earned her aquanaut designation during the 2019 NEPTUNE (Nautical Experiments in Physiology, Technology and Underwater Exploration) mission. She previously served as Commander during a 2020 tour at the Mars Desert Research Station. In 2021, Dr. Pandya was granted an Honorary Fellowship in Extreme and Wilderness Medicine by the World Extreme Medicine organization and named one of the Women’s Executive Network’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada, as well as a Canadian Space Agency Space Ambassador. Her career and trajectory have been captured at the Ontario Science Center’s “Canadian Women in Space,” exhibit, alongside Dr. Roberta Bondar, the first Canadian woman in space (and Dr. Pandya’s idol growing up).
3 words to describe Nature?
Vast. Inspiring. Infinite
3 things Nature taught you?
To be in the moment
To be prepared
That everything else can wait
3 most treasured Nature spots?
The Canadian Rockies
Hapuna Beach, Kona, Hawaii
The sunset over the pond behind my parents' house
When you look at the OCEAN, it makes you feel...?
At peace, knowing that I am one tiny part of infinity.
When you see a FOREST, it makes you feel...?
Like I am at the start of an adventure.
When you see a VOLCANO, it makes you feel...?
Full of awe at nature's power.
When you see a SUNRISE or SUNSET, it makes you feel...?
Grateful and satisfied to be able to have that moment to appreciate.
When you hear THUNDER, it makes you feel...?
Excited for the subsequent storm.
When you hear the WIND HOWLING, it makes you feel...?
Like I am in a mystery or adventure novel!
Are you an OCEAN, MOUNTAIN, FOREST, or DESERT person?
All of the above
On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is Nature to your well-being?
10
Share with us a childhood nature memory?
When I was 14, we went on a survival camp. My best friend and I were only 2 of a handful of girls in a class of over 35. We proudly built and slept in one of the best lean-tos, and managed to keep a fire going all night. We also went caving on that same trip!
Greg Hill
Greg Hill is a pro skier, filmmaker, and ski guide with the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. Hill has made hundreds of first descents and has set several world records. Some of his feats include:
- Climbed and skied 330 000 ft in march 2014, or 100 vertical km.
- Climbed and skied 2 million feet in 2010. Averaging 5500 ft a day upwards all year. During this year he climbed 71 mountains, skied 1039 runs, in 4 countries, his biggest day was 23000ft, he had 77 days over 10 grand. Recently beaten by Aaron Rice who toured 2,500,000ft in 2016.
- Set the Spearhead Traverse record of 4hr1min (no longer the record), and the complete Spearhead with 11 summits, 20 000ft in 13 hours.
- First North American to climb and ski 40 000 ft in 24 hrs and set a World Record of 50 100 ft in 24 hours.(no longer the record)
- First North American to climb and ski Mt-Blanc in a day, 11 hours, 12000 ft.
- Pioneered the Northern Monashee traverse, a 21-day ski traverse where he summited 21 peaks along the way.
- Pioneered many first descents throughout the Columbia Mountains, Canada.
- Has climbed and skied 9 of the 10 highest peaks in the Selkirk mountains.
- Climbed 80 ten thousand foot days in 2006-7 season, 990,000 ft total.
- Has summited and skied over 190 mountains.
- Has planted over a million trees.
His feats have earned him the titles “Top 25 Fittest Guys in the World” (2011) from Men’s Fitness Magazine for climbing and skiing 2 000 000 feet in a year and “Top Adventurers of the Year” (2005) from National Geographic Adventure Magazine for his first million feet climbed and skied. His most recent environmental adventures are profiled in his movie “Electric Greg” which has traveled the world inspiring people to change. Media impressions featuring Greg number in the tens of millions. He has been featured on National Geographic Television, Outside Television, and in the Banff International Mountain Film Festival World Tour. Greg has presented to audiences worldwide. He has been an ambassador for leading outdoor brands like Arc’teryx for over fifteen years and is widely recognized as one of North America’s leading adventurers. Greg’s biggest objectives lately are in his everyday quest to adventure in a more sustainable fashion. Fueled by fortitude, rather than recognition and fame, Greg, a father of two, challenges himself and us all to leave the planet in better shape.
3 words to describe Nature?
Resplendent. Calming. Endlessly challenging
3 things Nature taught you?
Patience
Confidence
Happiness
3 most treasured Nature spots?
Anywhere near water be it ocean, river, or lake, Mountain tops, and any sunset viewing spot.
When you look at the OCEAN, it makes you feel...?
Insignificant and at peace
When you see a FOREST, it makes you feel...?
Fresh and free
When you see a VOLCANO, it makes you feel...?
In awe
When you see a SUNRISE or SUNSET, it makes you feel...?
Like everything makes sense
When you hear THUNDER, it makes you feel...?
Raw and real
When you hear the WIND HOWLING, it makes you feel...?
Alive
Are you an OCEAN, MOUNTAIN, FOREST, or DESERT person?
Mountain
On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is Nature to your well-being?
10
Share with us a childhood nature memory?
Great memories of camping lakeside with the family, waking to water flooding the tent, and just loving the moments.
Taylor Keen
Taylor Keen is a full-time instructor in the Heider College of Business Administration in Strategy and Entrepreneurship. Keen is also the Founder of Sacred Seed, a not-for-profit entity whose mission is to propagate tribal seed sovereignty, battle for tribal sacred geography, and seek cultural revitalization among tribal peoples. Currently, Keen is embarking on a journey with indigenous seeds of the upper Missouri River tribes to grow, harvest, and celebrate the cosmology of the 4 Sisters (corn, bean, squash, and sunflower). Additionally, from his book-in-progress, he incorporates teachings of the sacred masculine/feminine of tribal peoples including the cosmology of Mother Corn and the Earth Mother goddess. Keen holds a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College as well as a Master's of Business Administration and Masters of Public Administration from Harvard University, where he served as a Fellow in the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development. Taylor is the author of the book-in-progress entitled "Rediscovering America: Sacred Geography, the Ancient Earthen Works and an Indigenous History of Turtle Island”. Keen is Trustee Emeritus of the Nebraska State Historical Society, Board member Emeritus of the Humanities Nebraska, and Chairman Emeritus of the Blackbird Bend Corporation (The Omaha Nation of Nebraska and Iowa’s Economic Development Corporation). Listen to Taylor’s interview on the Meateater podcast with Steven Rinella below.
3 words to describe Nature?
Love. Mother. Earth
3 things Nature taught you?
Plant Nation comes first in priority.
Animal Nation comes second, for they depend on the Plant Nation.
Third in priority are the Human Beings, for if we put ourselves above the other two Nations, we will but destroy ourselves.
3 most treasured Nature spots?
Flathead Lake
The foothills of the Ozark Mountains
Anywhere where granite meets the ocean
When you look at the OCEAN, it makes you feel...?
That our planet is a water planet. People forget that.
When you see a FOREST, it makes you feel...?
Loss, as there are not enough of them left.
When you see a VOLCANO, it makes you feel...?
That our planet is alive and that core is molten, and that there is an Underworld / Lowerworld.
When you see a SUNRISE or SUNSET, it makes you feel...?
Rebirth and Death.
When you hear THUNDER, it makes you feel...?
Those are the sounds of the Upper Realm Thunderers, and their messengers, the Thunderbirds.
When you hear the WIND HOWLING, it makes you feel...?
Spirits of those gone on are carried by the wind.
Are you an OCEAN, MOUNTAIN, FOREST, or DESERT person?
All of the above
On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is Nature to your well-being?
10
Share with us a childhood nature memory?
Realizing that all of nature is alive and knowing everything grows and dies, and feeds more life.