Kiliii Yüyan

Life on Thin Ice

Jun 2-4, 2024

In Partnership with Rolex

In the Arctic north, sea ice is synonymous with the sand in the desert. The ice is vital for transportation, for food, for living. And while the temperatures seem inhumane, the Arctic is teeming with life. Indigenous tribes call this frosty land home, but they’re not alone. Polar bears, musk ox, whales and caribou are some of the Arctic animals co-existing with more than 40 different ethnic groups in the north. Through beautiful images and awe-inspiring moments, National Geographic Live takes you on a journey with our first Indigenous speaker Kiliii Yüyan to understand the native peoples and their relationship to a frigid land and its animals.

About Kiliii Yüyan
National Geographic Explorer Kiliii Yüyan is an award-winning photographer capturing the human experience in some of the world’s harshest environments. He is a 2023 recipient of National Geographic’s Eliza Scidmore Award for Outstanding Storytelling. Kiliii has a unique talent for showcasing stories of the Arctic and the human communities connected to the land. Kiliii leans on his ancestry that is both Nanai and Chinese-American as he explores northern people. In addition to National Geographic, Kiliii is an award-winning contributor to Vogue, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Guardian and Nature Conservancy.

Event Dates

In Partnership with

Explore this season's speakers