top of page

Telling Our Stories Speaker Series presents Ian Tamblyn

Wed, May 08

|

Haliburton

Science Needs You in the Chukchi Sea

Telling Our Stories Speaker Series presents Ian Tamblyn
Telling Our Stories Speaker Series presents Ian Tamblyn

Time & Location

May 08, 2024, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Haliburton, 6712 Gelert Rd, Haliburton, ON K0M 1S0, Canada

About the event

For tickets

In the winter of 1984, I received a letter from an American marine  biologist who I had never met. The letter read” Hey, Tamblyn, Science  Needs you in the Chukchi Sea. Get your diver’s licence and join us in  Nome on July 7th for a month study of the feeding habits of Gray Whales and walrus.”

I  burst out laughing when I read this letter but it not a joke. It was an  offer that changed the course of my life. I spent that winter in a  suburban Ottawa pool and I got my PADI open water certificate diving the  murky waters of the St. Lawrence on July 4th. Six days later I made my first Arctic dive at King Island, in the middle of the Bering Strait.

The  scientist who made the offer was Dr. John Oliver from the Marine Lab at  Moss Landing, California. He had seen me play the previous summer at  the marine station at Bamfield, B.C. He wanted me to be the artist in  residence on the expedition, believing firmly in a multi discipline  approach to his work. As he said, “Tamblyn, we’re benthic scientists,  we’ve got our heads in the mud or eyes down a microscope, I am  interested in your observational eyes to take in the big picture from  another perspective.”  He was the first scientist besides Richard  Feynman I had ever heard take this approach and since that time there  have been few since.

The adventure in the Bering Strait and  the Chukchi Sea led to several other expeditions with the “benthic  bubs”, culminating with a month of diving under the ice of McMurdo  Sound, Antarctica. It also led to the creation of two albums, a Juno  nomination, a play and a two-part series called “Notes from the Bottom  of the World” that aired on CBC’s “Ideas” series with host, Lester  Sinclair.

That first expedition opened the door to several  other adventures as well, including 27 years guiding and driving zodiacs  in the Arctic, Antarctic and other remote parts of the world.

Say “YES!” to adventure.

Share this event

Arts Council Logo high resolution Robert VanNood.jpg

Arts Council ~ Haliburton Highlands

P. O. Box 931, 5152 County Rd. 21

Haliburton, ON  K0M 1S0

705.457.8033

haliburtonarts@haliburtonarts.on.ca

Arts Council Haliburton Highlands would not be possible the support of our members or without the volunteer work of our members who serve on our board and committees. Members are always welcome to join and offer their talents and ideas.

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • YouTube

THANK YOU TO OUR FUNDERS AND PARTNERS

ontario arts council
ON_POS_LOGO_BLACK_RGB.png
HCDC
KLCOA
My Haliburton Highlands
Parker Pad & Printing

©2025 by Arts Council Haliburton Highlands.

 The use of any of the photographs on this website without the permission of the artist or arts council is strictly prohibited

bottom of page