Arctic at a Crossroads: Wilderness, Energy, and Global Change
Mon, Feb 02
|Carbondale
Join Dr. Chris Dunn, current ACES Resident at Toklat, on February 2nd for an immersive look at the shifting landscapes of the High North, where he will bridge philosophy and adventure to explore the future of wilderness and energy across Alaska, Iceland, and Greenland.
Time & Location
Feb 02, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM MST
Carbondale, 520 S 3rd St, Carbondale, CO 81623, USA
About the Event
Join Dr. Chris Dunn for an evocative exploration of the rapidly shifting landscapes of the High North. This talk, co-hosted by the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies and Wild Rose Education, offers a unique perspective on the intersection of wilderness conservation, energy development, and climate change across Arctic Alaska, Iceland, and Greenland.
Drawing on years of experience living and working in the remote Gates of the Arctic National Park, a year-long Fulbright fellowship in Iceland, and a summer of expedition and project work in Greenland, Dr. Dunn will examine how these iconic regions are transforming. The presentation moves beyond data to explore the philosophical and social dimensions of these shifts—discussing the rapid changes shaping the future of the planet's wildest places.
Key highlights of the presentation include:
Case Studies from the Edge: Insights from Gates of the Arctic, the vast interior of Iceland, and the current geopolitical prominence of Greenland.
Global Connections: Analysis of how Arctic changes resonate with other northern regions like Scandinavia and Arctic Canada.
A Multi-Disciplinary View: Integrating philosophy, social theory, and photography to understand environmental and technology-driven shifts.
About the Speaker
Dr. Chris Dunn is an interdisciplinary environmental humanities scholar whose research bridges philosophy, literary studies, and social theory to address urgent environmental issues. After earning his PhD from the University of Colorado-Boulder, he served as a Fulbright Scholar in Iceland. His diverse background includes teaching humanities for the U.S. Navy on the open ocean and working seasonally for the National Park Service.
Chris is currently a Writer in Residence at the ACES Residency at Toklat for the winter of 2026. An avid photographer and outdoor adventurer, he brings a deeply personal and visual narrative to his research on climate solutions and wildland geographies. Read more about him at https://www.chrisdunnonplanetearth.com/
View his January 25, 2026 talk from Toklat on youtube:
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