Chuck Jonkey - Sonic Safari Wanderings Through Indonesia & Taiwan
Chuck Jonkey takes us on his latest expedition to document, film and record tribal music and culture.
Munduk was an amazing time visiting small villages and recording the sexually charged Joged Bumbung dance and the earthy gigantic bamboo Jegog music.
Chuck recorded and filmed many performances in tiny villages of Central and Eastern Java.
On the steaming active volcano of Mount Merapi Chuck witnessed and filmed the rare Wayan Wong dance
where live Javanese master dancers imitate the movements of the shadow puppet’s retelling of ancient tales from the Ramayana.
Banyuwangi was full of village music of the Osing and Maduras people.
Chuck rounds out this expedition with an introduction to the stunning island of Taiwan.
Chase Millsap - Exploring the Human Frontier: U.S. Wartime Allies in a Global Refugee Crisis
Chase Millsap
Since 9/11, the U.S. government has invested billions of dollars and thousands of American lives in our current fight against non-state actors.
Many veterans of the global war on terrorism, have been asked to fight alongside foreign allies, live within local communities, and build security partnerships.
We could not complete our mission without the translators, engineers, security guards, embassy clerks, logisticians, and soldiers who have stood by us.
As representatives of the U.S. government, we have given our word to protect these allies should they come under threat.
The only official means to protect these allies is administered by U.S. Department of State through the Refugee Admissions and Special Immigrant Visa Programs.
In the midst of a global refugee crisis, these programs have been largely under-resourced and plagued by bureaucratic delays.
Many of our wartime allies wait in hiding for years even though they have verifiable records of distinguished service with the U.S. military.
Additionally, there is NO formal means for veterans and service members to advocate on behalf of our wartime allies.
Chase Millsap in Iraq
In 2015 Chase Millsap traveled to Turkey to meet the Iraqi soldier who saved his life.
In collaboration with National Geographic Chase chronicled his ally’s journey through the complex process of refugee resettlement.
As a member of the No One Left Behind, Chase directs Operation Ronin, a joint effort deploying military veterans to conduct research and
support for other wartime allies.
Chase will present the findings of the NOLB research abroad as well as his advocacy efforts here at home.
The presentation will end with a Q&A session.
Biography:
Chase Millsap is a 10-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army Special Forces.
He served three combat tours with the 1st Marine Division in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq.
He then served five years as a U.S. Army Green Beret leading counter-terrorism missions to South West Asia.
He is on the Board of Directors of No One Left Behind, a veteran run non-profit dedicated to supporting America’s wartime allies.
He recently produced the short-film, "The Captain’s Story" in collaboration with National Geographic
to highlight the struggles faced by America’s wartime allies.
His written works have been published by the Columbia (SIPA) Journal of International Affairs, National Geographic and the Huffington Post.
Chase received a B.S. in History from the U.S. Naval Academy and M.P.P from the University of Southern California.
Chase is the Founder of Ronin Arts, a media and production company for the Next Greatest Generation.
When he is not trying to save the world, he enjoys hiking in the hills surrounding Los Angeles with his wife, Maile and dog, Koa.
Following up on his 61 days traversing China from Westernmost of Tibet to easternmost of China, and his epic Tibet-China experience,
Paul will share the exploits of yet another 3-month journey exploring Asia to share with his Brother Adventurers on January 19, 2017.
When Paul realized there were very few people ever traversed Japan from the southernmost tip to the northernmost point in one fell swoop,
he knew immediately it was a challenge he must undertake.
Furthermore, he decided to travel entirely via public transportation.
Landmark at Cape Soya, Japan’s northernmost habitable point, In Wakkanai City, Soya district, Hokkaido, Japan
Paul’s epic journey was further complicated by his decision to travel exclusively via all modes of transportation,
including ox cart rides in the remote island of Taketomi,
and an excruciating walk in torrential rain from the deserted Nishi-Mamanbetsu train stop to the Mamanbetsu Airport,
in remote Abashiri District in Hokkaido.
Among many tales, Paul will relate how, with an entire day to kill at the airport,
his boredom inadvertently managed to bring the entire airport to a halt and make himself the exclusive focus of law enforcement,
security, and the air traffic controllers.
Paul is eager to share his exciting adventures about traversing Japan,
including what must be done prior to leaving one&s home country, how to navigate the various transportation systems,
what smart phone apps to use to book the myriad lodging options
(traditional Japanese Ryokan, western hotels, Onsen, Manga Kissa, Capsule hotels, Minshukus and temple stays),
and how to order foods at various styles of restaurants.
Please join us for a relaxing dinner and an evening of camaraderie.
Paul’s Original Route to Traverse the Entire Japan
Lava Rocks Are Abundant on Taketomi Island and Are Used as Block Walls at This Unique Restaurant, at Homes, Roads, Parks and Other Constructions Throughout the Island
Ox Carts For Transportation in Taketomi, One of Southernmost Habitable Islands in Okinawa
Ox Cart Drivers Also Served as Tour Guides, Historians, Singers and Entertainers
Dr. Hans Bertsch - The Hunt for Red Nudibranch: Underwater Explorations in the Gulf of California
Hans Bertsch at Punta LaGringa
Stretching over 1200 km between the peninsula of Baja California and mainland Mexico, the Gulf of California has an incredibly rich and diverse marine fauna.
The more than 4200 species known from these waters probably represent only half of its real biodiversity.
Its unknown far surpasses what it known.
Dr. Bertsch's presentation begins on land, with the discoveries of Leon Diguet, a French copper mine, and the description of a Cochimí petroglyph site.
It then segues underwater to explore a simple theme: "Who does what to whom, and where."
This includes unnamed and undescribed species (and how to name a new species!),
predator-prey interactions, mating behavior, mimicry, and biogeography of multiple invertebrates
(including corals, anemones, snails, crabs and shrimps, sea urchins and sea stars).
Nudibranchs, with whom Dr. Bertsch has an inordinate fondness, will be especially highlighted.
Their foudroyant colors, intriguing biology, and complicated histories will be on full display.
Along the way, Dr. Bertsch will also discuss the excitement and challenges of doing science in the Gulf of California,
with vignettes of expeditions over the past 125 years.
Biography
UW Research & Bulls - Eyepuffers
Dr. Hans Bertsch, born in St. Louis, Missouri, received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.
His explorations have yielded over 300 publications, including works on archaeology, archaeoastronomy, native rock art, history and culture,
philosophy of science, marine biology, invertebrate taxonomy and ecology, ethnomalacology, and various essays, fiction and poetry.
He has published three books, Hawaiian Nudibranchs (1981, with Scott Johnson),
Sea of Cortez Marine Invertebrates, 2nd ed. (2007, with Alex Kerstitch) and most recently,
Invertebrados Marinos del Noroeste de México / Marine Invertebrates of Northwest Mexico (2016, with Luis E. Aguilar Rosas).
This latest volume is a comprehensive reference to over 800 species of marine invertebrates, illustrating and
describing the natural history of the organisms, how indigenous cultures interacted with the species, and emphasizing conservation and environmental education.
He has described 39 new species of molluscs from around the world (including Brazil, the Philippines, Hawaii, northwestern Mexico, and southern California),
and has named three genera of nudibranchs (Mexichromis, Chromolaichma and Trivettea).
Other investigators have named 5 species in his honor (Flabellina bertschi, Bajaeolis bertschi, Doriopsilla bertschi,
Hypselodoris bertschi, and Hoplodoris hansrosaorum).
Dr. Bertsch has taught field, laboratory and lecture courses at colleges and universities in Hawai’i, California, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Mexico.
His journeys to scuba diving locations have always included terrestrial detours to explore, respect, and enjoy the diverse richness of their human cultures.
As a scientist, his objective is not just discovery, but dissemination of knowledge to colleagues, students, and citizens of all ages and skills.
Care for the environment begins with our youth, our children and grandchildren.
His now-11-year-old granddaughter Ivette Cadena has helped him explore and explain numerous encounters!