Juneau Icefield Alaska
Sunday October 24, 2021 7:30 PM


Juneau Icefield Alaska by Paul Illsley

Join Paul on a photographic journey across Alaska’s remote and pristine glacier systems as he and a team of adventurous researchers train a group of international university students in the art of recording environmental monitoring data in remote and sometime hostile locations. Paul spent eight summers as an instructor of research imaging, remote sensing, and photogrammetry with the National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) sponsored Juneau Icefield Research Program (JIRP).  This program has been featured in multiple National Geographic articles. Paul’s talk will include images of their adventures as well as views of the beautiful pristine glacial landscape that Alaska is famous for.

Bio:

Paul possesses over 40 years of photographic experience with a specialty in research imaging, photomicrography, and airborne imaging. Paul’s images have been published by National Geographic, used by The Royal Canadian Mint in the form of a coin and by Canada Post in the form of a stamp. His images have been featured in international publications and used by Parks Canada as well as other national and international government organizations.

Paul has served as imaging specialist on a NASA and National Geographic sponsored airborne laser mapping (LiDAR) project in the Peruvian Andes and as an instructor of Cartography, Remote Sensing, and Research Imaging on the NASA sponsored Juneau Icefield Research Program (JIRP) in Alaska. Paul is an award winning graduate and former Instructor of Remote Sensing and Airborne Imaging as well as Digital Mapping in the Cartography department at the Centre of Geographic Sciences (COGS). He has also been a cartographic consultant for the Discovery Channel and underwater imaging consultant for the History Channel.

Paul was an airborne imaging specialist in the Applied Research department at COGS where he was responsible for maintaining and piloting advanced drones containing Viable Spectrum, Multispectral, Hyperspectral and Thermal imaging sensors as well as active LiDAR laser mapping systems. He holds an Advanced Operations drone pilot’s certification from Transport Canada.

In addition to his cartographic and research imaging experience Paul has served as a reconnaissance specialist with the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves and holds certifications in both parachuting as well as SCUBA diving. Paul possesses conflict resolution training as well as experience in group counseling programs in federal penitentiaries and enjoys free time activities such as kayaking, hiking and nature photography.

As a former member and formation counselor in an ecumenical Franciscan monastic community, Paul continues to benefit from his studies and experiences in monasteries throughout North America including a time of residency in Thomas Merton’s hermitage at The Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky, Monastery of Christ in the Desert in New Mexico, Little Portions and St. Elizabeth’s Friary in New York, Mount St. Frances Monastery in Alberta, Zen Mountain Monastery in New York, The Cistercian-Trappist Monastery of Our Lady of Calvary in New Brunswick, St. Augustine’s Monastery and Gampo Abbey in Nova Scotia.

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