Jeff Kerby

As an explorer working at the intersection of narrative storytelling, computational photography, and environmental science, my goal is to expand how we understand and engage with our world. By combining the visual power of photography with scientific data collection, I uncover subtle patterns in environmental change and natural history that might be otherwise missed. I believe that the future of exploration is rooted in interdisciplinary collaboration, where diverse perspectives and skill sets merge to achieve outcomes no single specialist could produce alone.

Over the past decade, my efforts have increasingly focused on forging connections—linking communities, research teams, and non-specialists through new tools and methods that make knowledge more accessible and actionable. This can include working to transform drone imagery into accessible VR content, or layering in traditional media to create data-rich maps that transform complex findings into formats that speak to a broad range of audiences. This process not only demystifies science but also empowers people to engage in meaningful discussions about the environment and the challenges we all collectively face.

My current work centers on how large herbivores, such as caribou and muskoxen, influence the structure of tundra ecosystems and ultimately their energy balance and carbon budget. This work is also centered on the core value that northern communities place on having robust populations of these animals for both cultural and economic reasons. Recognizing that these species play multiple interacting roles as climate allies and community cornerstones highlights the importance of integrating research with traditional and local knowledge. Ultimately, my approach seeks to inspire a shift in how we perceive and address environmental challenges by encouraging curiosity, empathy, and innovative thinking so that current and future generations inherit not only knowledge, but also a means to act on it.