How Ivan Mikolji Fuses Nature, Science, and Art to Foster Conservation of South American Waters
South American river systems, the native range for many aquarium fish species, are beautiful, biodiverse, and rich in complexity.
My guest today, Ivan Mikolji is a world-renowned naturalist, explorer, researcher, audio/visual artist, and author. Ivan has been sharing his river adventures through breath-taking films and photographs of S. American species for the past 15 years. Join us, as Ivan explains how an early love of science and nature in his native Venezuela drove him to documentation of spectacular species and biotopes, education, and conservation efforts.
BIO:
Ivan Mikolji is a world-renowned explorer, researcher, audio/visual artist, and author who tirelessly documents the magnificent diversity and wonder of the aquatic habitats of S. America. A native of Venezuela, early experiences with aquariums and the aquatic world fostered his passion of sharing the richness of South American waterways and its denizens to the world. Through Ivan’s strong social media presence, his dramatic underwater videos are seen around the world, and his photographs and stories have graced articles in numerous publications. Ivan is also an extremely accomplished artist, whose beautiful interpretations of the aquatic life of Venezuela and South America are sought after by collectors worldwide. The founder and President of the Fish from Venezuela Foundation (Fundacion Peces de Venezuela), Ivan is active in ongoing scientific expeditions, including work with the IUCN, as well as outreach and educational programming. Ultimately, Ivan hopes that by sharing images, video and stories, his audience learns to appreciate the wonders and importance of conserving these unique natural habitats.