Hammer Theatre presents National Geographic Live Spring 2020

National Geographic Live! is a highly acclaimed speaker series bringing the world’s best scientists, explorers, authors, photographers, and filmmakers to the stage, creating long-lasting emotional connections with local communities. Don’t miss the Spring 2020 lineup of thought-provoking presentations by today’s leading explorers, scientists, and photographers at Hammer Theatre Center in Downtown San Jose.

“Pursuit of the Black Panther” with Shannon Wild (7:30pm, Wednesday, January 29)

Wildlife photographer and cinematographer Shannon Wild is a passionate conservationist who lives in Africa but works wherever the wildlife calls. In her 15 years documenting wildlife, she’s been pinned by a cheetah, charged by an elephant, lions, and buffalo, and bitten countless times by snakes and lizards.

But her most recent assignment might prove her most difficult yet: producing a documentary about a rare black panther – the only one living in 250 square miles of dense forest in southern India. Get an inside look at the challenges and dangers of tackling an assignment in an unforgiving environment, from the narrow dirt roads to extreme weather to unexpected injuries – and worse.

“Designed by Nature” with Kakani Katija (7:30pm, Wednesday, February 12)

A former member of the U.S. International Figure Skating Team, bioengineer Kakani Katija now studies the graceful movements of life below the surface. Join her for a fascinating look at one of the least explored ecosystems on our planet—the ocean’s midwaters—and learn how its inhabitants could lead to breakthroughs in bio-inspired design.

Designers and engineers have drawn inspiration from our natural world for decades, creating innovations as groundbreaking as manned flight, and Katija’s own early work has led to energy efficient jellyfish-inspired robotics. Now, she studies little-known sea creatures that have the potential to make a big impact on some of our world’s most critical problems. As a certified research diver, Katija conducts field studies around the world, gathering data to help her develop technologies for exploring this ocean twilight zone and imagining—and creating—possibilities for the future.

“A Rare Look: North Korea to Cuba” with David Guttenfelder (7:30pm, Wednesday, April 1)

In 2011, David Guttenfelder made history when he helped the Associated Press open a bureau in North Korea—the first-ever Western news agency in the politically isolated country. For the first time in North Korean history, images of daily life there were sent to the world, while Guttenfelder himself acted as an unofficial ambassador. In 2016, he broke through another wall when he boarded the first cruise ship in decades to travel from the United States to Cuba, and returned to the island to cover Fidel Castro’s four-day funeral procession. His talent for crossing long-closed borders has led to some of National Geographic's most revealing geopolitical photo essays, as well as connecting people around the world through social media platforms like Instagram.

“When Women Ruled the World” with Kara Cooney (7:30pm, Wednesday, May 20)

When it comes to women in power, we’ve come a long way…right? Join Dr. Kara Cooney, professor of Egyptology, for a look at a time in ancient history when women ruled the world. Often neglected in the history books, these women were considered exceptions to the rule, political pawns in a patriarchal society. But their power and influence is undeniable. Cleopatra used her sexuality—and her money—to build alliances with warlords of the Roman empire. Neferusobek was the first woman to definitively take the title of King. Nefertiti is known more for her beauty than for bringing a fractured Egypt together. What can we learn from how these women ruled? Dr. Cooney shares some illuminating answers.

The National Geographic Live! Spring 2020 Speaker Series comes to Hammer Theatre Center, 101 Paseo De San Antonio, San Jose from January through May 2020. Tickets ($30-$45) are available at https://hammertheatre.com/nationalgeographiclive-series/ or by calling (408) 924-8501.