BRIDGING BIOMES

AwareNearth is proud to launch Bridging Biomes, a global odyssey redefining how the next generation perceives and interacts with the planet. By partnering with 15 primary schools across six continents, we are uniting over 200 children to map the vital connections between natural biomes and human activity.

Children aged 5–9 years are becoming the cartographers of a new world. Using a custom Equal Earth projection map and over 100 illustrations of plants, animals, and legendary creatures chosen by students and teachers, Bridging Biomes blends scientific accuracy with youthful imagination. With the guidance of international and local experts, we are co-creating a new-era map that looks at our world and beyond.

This global storytelling experience stretches from the Himalayas to the Pacific, and from the desert to deep space. It explores how we feel about and interact with the environment through the eyes of the next generation of planetary guardians. Our goal is to scale Bridging Biomes to every school on Earth, inviting all children to share their local heroes and restore our relationship with our greatest ally: the natural world.

WHERE ARE THE SCHOOLS

OUR ARTIST

Jessica Joachim

support TEAM

Thanks to our fantastic group of scientists and specialists, Bridging Biomes is bringing the world to your fingertips. Our interactive map invites explorers young and old to marvel at discoveries both near and far. Together, we’ll uncover the hidden wonders of life, journeying from the invisible world of the tiny to the vastness of the infinite—all with the vital aim to reconnect ourselves with the nature we know, and the nature we have yet to discover.

Thank you to Brian, Gladys, Phurba, Samuel, Andrew, Yiwen, Adriana, and David for your precious time and your enthusiastic, positive contributions.

Adriana is a South African theoretical physicist and technologist. She is the founder of Proudly Human, focused on extreme-environment research, and a Director at the Foundation for Space Development Africa. An advocate for space exploration and off-world settlement, she explores the origins of life and humanity's future on Mars.

David is a world-renowned Kenyan marine biologist and the current Chair of IPBES (2023–2026). As Founding Director of CORDIO East Africa, he specializes in coral reef resilience and sustainability science, advocating for a global shift in values to protect biodiversity and ensure long-term planetary health.

Gladys, a National Centre for Scientific Research CNRS researcher at SETE, studies human-nature connections. Her work, with over 3,800 citations, explores how these connections enhance well-being and conservation. Her notable review highlights psychological and physical impacts. Gladys now focuses on developing and validating practices to strengthen global human-nature bonds.

Brian is a Senior Climate Scientist at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and an Associate Research Professor at the University of Colorado Denver. A prominent ecologist and National Geographic Explorer, he specializes in forest disturbances, carbon sequestration, and the impacts of climate change on high-latitude and remote ecosystems.

Samuel is an Associate Professor at the University of Lausanne and a specialist in Earth sciences and paleoceanography. His research focuses on the global carbon cycle, nutrient cycling, and ocean deoxygenation. He was a contributing author to the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), specifically focusing on biogeochemical cycles.

Elisa is a Senior Programme Officer at IUCN, where she coordinates the Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme (ITHCP). Elisa has over 10 years' experience in conservation, particularly in Asia, and prior to joining IUCN, she managed biodiversity conservation projects in Myanmar and supported community-based initiatives in Nepal.

Tom Patterson grew up in the Adirondack Mountains of northern New York and graduated with a B.A. in geography from SUNY Oneonta. Seeking warmer climes, he received an M.A. in geography from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Tom started his career teaching classes and serving as Cartography Laboratory Manager at the University of Utah. Most of his career was spent as a cartographer for the U.S. National Park Service, Harpers Ferry Center, retiring from there in 2018. Tom is a former president of the North American Cartographic Information Society (NACIS) and now serves as exectutive director of that organization. He is active in the ICA Commission on Mountain Cartography. Tom lives outside of Washington, D.C. in northern Virginia.

Andrew, a conservation biologist, employs GIS and remote sensing to map species and habitats. Catawba College's Associate Professor of GIS and Conservation, he holds degrees from Duke and UCL. His PhD explored East African carnivores. He advised National Geographic on global conservation priorities.

Yiwen studies conservation science and policy, focusing on invasive species and SDGs. His work highlights policy shortcomings and explores nature-based climate solutions. He assesses carbon financing, reforestation, and conservation effectiveness in Southeast Asia.

Dr. Faten Attig Bahar, Director at Future Earth Africa Hub Leadership Center and Visiting Fellow at Rhodes University, specializes in renewable energy, climate finance, and Africa's green transition. She is also a celebrated Tunisian children's author with 20 award-winning books.

Dr. Ralph Chami is a financial economist and former IMF official with over 30 years of experience. A co-founder of Blue Green Future and Rebalance Earth, he is a pioneer in "Science-Based Finance," focusing on valuing natural capital to combat climate change and build an equitable, nature-positive global economy.

LOCAL PARTNERS

For each participating school, AwareNearth and our expert support team collaborate closely with principals, teachers, and local non-profits dedicated to environmental education and preservation. Their deep-rooted expertise in local flora, fauna, and diverse biomes brings a genuine, authentic touch to the project—ensuring that when it comes time for the final vote, the children are empowered with real-world knowledge.

Pierre-André Krueger

Hilde Fålun Strøm

Fernando Trujillo

Cynthia Gerling

Guillaume Schneider

Ishor Nachhiring