Ian started out as a conservation and ecotourism writer-photographer in South Africa in the mid-nineties. By the early 2000s his work had been published by leading magazines and book publishers in South Africa, Canada, the U.K. and the U.S.A. After immigrating to the U.S. he landed a berth as a photojournalist-reporter with Lee Central Coast News where he led the group into the world of multimedia storytelling. Examples were showcased as best practice at national  conferences.

 

From there Ian transitioned into the field of science communications where he exercised a knack for storytelling at some of the world’s leading research institutes including the Woodwell climate Research Center, Virginia Sea Grant at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and Oregon State University where he served as editor of the research magazine, Terra. 

 

Although a journeyman as a journalist, his education includes an AA in Photography and Graphic Design, a BA ED with majors in Geography and Human Movement Science, and a MS in Environmental Studies with a specialization in Environmental Communications.  

 

Before embarking on his media career, Ian operated Honeyguide Wilderness Adventures in South Africa. Certified as a sea kayak guide by the American Canoe Association,  river guide by the South African River Guides Association, Sport Cycle Coach by the US Cycling Federation, and  backpacking and adventure guide by South African Tourism, he has bikepacked South Africa, the Adirondacks, Scotland's Cairngorms National Park, and the Pacific Coast Bike Trail. He has also backpacked the John Muir Trail paddled numerous South African and North American rivers.

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Originally trained as a geography teacher and phys ed coach, Ian's early career roots were as a teacher. Then in 2016 and 2017 he was asked to host and served as faculty for a semester-long Advanced Science Communication Seminar at Virginia Sea Grant, which is housed in the Virginia Institute of Marine Science at the College of William and Mary. 

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Coaching fellows in-person and remotely, from infographics to whiteboard animation to videos to photo essays and documentary shorts, products were shared with the media, policymakers, stakeholders and prospective employers. Some were published on Science Matters and PBS Television. 

 

Ian has been the primary adviser for a master's thesis, which evaluated data collected using time-lapse photography, to monitor improvements to a Wyoming wetland that is an important bird migration stopover area, and has served as principal investigator on a project entitled The Benefits of Transmedia over Regular Journalism for the Communication of Science.​

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Student Work​​

What is a Wetland by Pamela Braff, aired on PBS TV. 

 

Resilient Ingleside by Sarah Ruiz was a multimedia storytelling project that examined a local efforts to combat recurrent flooding.

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The Marlin Maven was an ARCGIS Storymap that covered he work of PhD candidate at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Nadya Mamoozadeh. 

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The James River Blues was produced by talented storyteller Paige Bellamy who has since opted for a career in law.