Public Speaking

Isabelle is an accomplished, vibrant public speaker and is available to speak for conservation and science groups, businesses, schools, universities, conferences, community events, libraries, nature clubs, women’s groups, photographers, wildlife enthusiasts, and others. She has given numerous talks in a variety of settings, including elementary and secondary schools across North America, the Wildscreen Film Festival in Bristol, UK, Science World, the Museum of Vancouver, the Royal BC Museum, the Explorers’ Club, the Seattle Aquarium, and more. She is also a guest lecturer on cruise lines, including Ponant in destinations such as the Arctic, Alaska and the South Pacific and has specific expertise in marine ecosystems.

Isabelle’s lectures offer a mix of engaging storytelling and visuals, are filled with fun facts, interesting science, personal stories, and open up audiences’ curiosity for the natural world and wildlife experiences. As a photographer and filmmaker, she has a considerable collection of visuals that she incorporates into her lectures.

Isabelle has traveled to remote places around the world to raise the profile of diverse species and habitats, from following seabirds in isolated atolls in the South Pacific to documenting the elusive narwhal in the Arctic and tracking coastal wolves in the Pacific Northwest. Isabelle’s storytelling approach aims to celebrate biodiversity and inspire a meaningful and lasting connection to the natural world. Over the years, she has built trust with many scientists and joined expeditions to document science in the field, help disseminate scientific results, and share stories with the broader public through talks, films, multimedia exhibitions, books and articles.

A few of Isabelle’s presentation topics are described below, but all presentations, workshops and programs can be tailored to the needs of your group. Isabelle is available for virtual presentations.

All programs can be conducted in English or French.

Please contact Isabelle to discuss the needs of your event and for details about rates and availability: info@isabellegroc.com

Presentation topics

Wildlife’s best friends: dogs working for conservation

Based on Isabelle’s book, Conservation Canines: How Dogs Work for the Environment, Isabelle shares the stories of brave canines working to protect wildlife around the world. With their precise sense of smell, their hardworking temperament and their ability to bond with humans, dogs are lending their paws and noses to fix some of the most complex environmental problems on the planet. 

From whales to toads: visual storytelling for conservation

Bringing attention to little-known, elusive, under-appreciated species that people do not often see in the wild can be a challenge for environmental groups or anyone interested in making a difference for wildlife conservation. Visual storytelling tools can help address this disconnect and renew public commitment for those species that are often overshadowed by more charismatic members of the natural world. Drawing from examples of impact-driven storytelling campaigns, Isabelle’s presentation explores how photography, filmmaking, art, and visual branding combined with science-based information can all work together to give new voices to endangered species, inviting mew constituencies to experience the natural world in a powerful and intimate way. The presentation will highlight the story of Toad People, Isabelle’s feature documentary that won the Impact Panda Award at the Wildscreen Wildlife Film Festival

Act for the wild in your backyard: Conservation stories close to home

Wildlife conservation starts on our doorstep. You don’t have to travel to the most remote corners of the earth to engage with wildlife. Any step you can take to protect habitat and wildlife close to home makes a difference and helps create global impact. Combining stories and photographs, this talk showcases what people are doing in their backyards to save wildlife and habitats, and draws from field stories in Isabelle’s non fiction book: Gone is Gone: Wildlife Under threat.

Life of a Conservation Photographer: Stories from the field

From photographing mountain caribou from a helicopter to working with scientists capturing narwhal in the freezing waters of the Arctic, Isabelle has many field stories and photographs to share. In this presentation she highlights her work with scientists in the field, how she develops trust, builds story angles, adapts to different working environments, and how her photography and stories can help build public exposure on important science and conservation work.

Story and Photographs By…: The Craft of Storytelling

In this program, Isabelle shares her experience as an environmental photojournalist and how she combines photography and words to tell conservation stories.  She shares her creative process and discusses best practices for crafting pitches, finding the right audience, and taking a project from concept to publication.

Sea otters: A survival story

Based on Isabelle’s book, this engaging and very visual presentation takes audiences on a tale of of survival and transformation. Drawing from Isabelle’s journey in sea otter country along the Pacific Coast over a period of ten years, the talk explores the otters’ unique lifestyle, their remarkable comeback from the brink of extinction, and how they leave their mark (or pawprint) on the environment, in obvious and subtle ways.

British Columbia’s species at risk

From burrowing owls to grizzly bears, rattlesnakes and American badgers, British Columbia is home to more wild plant and animal species than any other province in Canada and is also one of the last holdouts for many large mammals that once roamed much of North America. Sadly many of these species are at risk. Learn about BC’s species at risk through this compelling presentation supported by Isabelle’s photographs, films, and field anecdotes resulting from her long-term involvement in a story-telling driven campaign, working alongside conservation groups to obtain better protection for some of Canada’s most precious species.

Alouette, je te sauverai! | Little lark, I will save you!

A presentation on what children and parents can do together to engage with the wild in their backyard and contribute to global conservation, one step at a time. The presentation draws from field stories in Isabelle’s non fiction book: Gone is Gone: Wildlife Under threat and also highlights how being a parent can lead to meaningful storytelling and conservation opportunities.

SCHOOL VISITS

In-person or virtual school visits can be geared around any of Isabelle’s non fiction children’s books on wildlife conservation, sea otters, conservation dogs, or the craft of writing and photography. Isabelle loves sharing her passion for the natural world with students of all ages, and delivers unique presentations, supported by studying visuals and film clips. She shares stories of her work in the field as a photojournalist working alongside scientists, insights on what she has learned and how students can become involved. School visits can be tailored to the needs of a particular class.

For more information about rates and availability and to book Isabelle as a speaker in your school, organization, library, nature club, or to arrange a book signing, please contact: info@isabellegroc.com