Alex Hedison is an artist and filmmaker living and working in Los Angeles. For the past twenty years, Alex Hedison has worked primarily with large and medium format cameras, in an effort to address the interstices between tradition and novelty by exploring the transitions between the two. She presents her work in series, and her photographs are a direct encounter between the individual and the immensity of the landscape. Her most recent work, A Brief Infinity (2022) explored cameraless techniques including chemigrams and hand-painted surfaces.

Adventurer and storyteller Tara Roberts discusses her searing memoir, “Written in the Waters,” which recounts her epic journey to trace the global slave trade across the Atlantic Ocean. Roberts, a National Geographic Explorer in Residence, spent years diving with and telling stories about a group of Black scuba divers searching for slave shipwrecks around the world. For fans of Cheryl Strayed’s “Wild” and Jesmyn Ward’s “Men We Reaped,” Roberts’ memoir is a powerful blend of personal and cultural history.

This talk tells the story of symmetry in theoretical physics, and its interplay with developments in our understanding of gravity over the years. In this talk, McNamara explores the power of symmetry as a tool for building physical theories, and how the recent explosion of generalized notions of symmetry has led to concrete, specific predictions about our universe.

In this presentation, environmental journalist Zak Podmore discusses his book Life After Dead Pool, which explores the complex challenges ahead and reframes the inevitable loss of Lake Powell as a turning point for a more sustainable future, debunking the notion that the West’s water challenges are unsolvable, and inviting us to secure a future where the Colorado River once again runs free.

Malala Yousafzai is an education activist, champion for girls’ access to sports and play, and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate in history. Listen in to hear from Malala about her most recent project — investing in women's sports — in conversation with Leila Fadel, host of NPR’s Morning Edition, who graciously agreed to come out to Aspen for this special event.

In this talk, Cranmer describes some of the ways that AI is revolutionizing science, and how these advances aren’t enabled by AI alone. He ends with some thoughts about what this means for the future of science.

Featuring Dr. Roberta Brinton, neuroscientist and director of the Center for Innovation in Brain Science at the University of Arizona, in conversation with Soledad Hurst, philanthropist and former on-air reporter/anchor for Bloomberg TV.

Former NFL wide receiver Kenny Stills presents his brand-new book, Still Growing, Still Learning, Still Me: A Journey of Protest, Healing, and Personal Transformation. From NFL spotlight to inner stillness and passionate political activism—Kenny Stills shares a powerful story of healing through service, self-reflection, and mental health. As the New York Times has reported, “Kenny Stills quietly became the on-field face of the movement Colin Kaepernick started in 2016. Stills wants to use his visibility to shine a light on police brutality, economic inequality, and other forms of social injustice.” A moderated conversation with Kenny and Liza Harris, followed by an audience Q&A.

Pinyon-juniper woodlands are among the most extensive and ecologically diverse ecosystem type in the southwestern United States. They support the largest remaining tracts of mature and old-growth forest in the country and are culturally important to many Indigenous peoples in the region. This talk explores the ecology of these woodlands, the challenges they face through various global change pressures, and ongoing stewardship and research efforts to sustain their resilience for future generations.

Wu Chi-Tsung (b. 1981, Taipei) graduated from the Taipei National University of the Arts in 2004 and is currently based in Taipei. His practice encompasses photography, video, installation, and experimental ink art, with a particular focus on reinterpreting traditional Asian art in contemporary contexts and on the dynamic nature of the image across technology, medium, and perception.