Peru, Nebraska - Photographer, sailor and explorer, David Thoreson, will speak at Peru State College as part of the 2019-2020 Distinguished Speaker Series. With his extreme polar adventures and Midwestern roots, Thoreson will be a unique and entertaining speaker.

Thoreson will be on the Peru State campus on Wednesday, October 30, at 7 p.m. to share his life story. The public is invited to attend this free event in the Performing Arts Center.

Thoreson's presentation will combine stunning visuals and storytelling about the inter-connectivity between people, land and water - at both the local and global level. He provides an eye-witness account of the impact of climate change to sensitive polar and ocean systems that affect the environment worldwide.

David Thoreson grew up in a small Iowa town. He learned to sail and love the water as a boy in the Iowa Great Lakes area where he became an environmental advocate. He will share how these early experiences led to a life of exploration and discovery at the far reaches of the globe while sailing over 70,000 miles around the planet.

Thoreson is the first American in history to sail both directions through the Arctic Ocean’s Northwest Passage. He also completed a 28,000-mile circumnavigation of the North American and South American continents on a research sailboat working with NASA, NOAA and universities from two hemispheres.

David Thoreson is the author of numerous articles and books including his pictorial memoir, Over the Horizon: Exploring the Edges of a Changing Planet. He is an Explorers Club Fellow and participant in the World Science Festival, Nobel Peace Prize Forums, TEDx and United Nations' Oceans Conference.

Peru State established the Distinguished Speaker Series in 2010 as part of a commitment to student engagement and success. The intent of the Series is to bring diverse, nationally and internationally recognized speakers to southeast Nebraska to enrich the educational experience of students while also providing regional communities more opportunities to engage in interesting and relevant topics.

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Quentin Victor contributed to this release.