As Science Friday’s video producer, Luke is tasked with writing, filming, directing, editing, animating, narrating, and promoting many of the short films you’ll find on this here website. Every other week, he becomes obsessed with the research he films until his video is complete or his colleagues show him a shiny new study to play with. Luke also wrangles a stable of equally enthusiastic freelance filmmakers, helping them to produce and promote their own stories.
Prior to being domesticated by Science Friday, Luke worked at the Wildlife Conservation Society, where he profiled a wide cast of characters, both two- and four-legged. The experience provided hands-on training in storytelling, as well as some invaluable lessons in wildlife filmmaking, such as “Lemurs enjoy scent marking. Everything.” And, “Never let a baby walrus sit on you.”
Despite his snobby film school education at SUNY Purchase and his devotion to Werner Herzog, his favorite film remains The Bear. He doesn’t care that it is a “kiddie film” that anthropomorphizes animals—he cries every time and isn’t ashamed of it.
Desktop Diaries: Michael Pollan
In the latest installment of our Desktop Diaries video series, we’ll take you into the home office (and garden) of the famous food and nature author Michael Pollan.
16:08
The Polar Bear Necessities
USGS wildlife biologist Karyn Rode monitors how populations of polar bears are affected by shrinking sea ice and other changing conditions in the Arctic.
Breakthrough: Polar Bear Witness
For USGS wildlife biologist Karyn Rode, tracking and tranquilizing polar bears from a helicopter are the just the first thrilling steps in her research.
The Giant Squid’s Biggest Mystery
Estimating how many giant squid are lurking in the deep ocean seemed unfathomable…until now!
17:15
Getting Inside The Head Of A Muskox
One researcher’s game of pretend sheds light on species survival in a warming climate.
Bear In Mind The Muskox
Conservation scientist Joel Berger dresses up as a grizzly bear near musk oxen herds, to find out if male oxen make them safer from bears.
How To Save The World’s Rarest Sea Lion Pups
After being hunted off the mainland of New Zealand centuries ago, a new generation of the Earth’s rarest sea lions species has miraculously returned.
8:34
Sculpting The Unending Bloom
Artist John Edmark uses the math of spiral geometry found in nature to create sculptures that endlessly bloom.
Creating The Never-Ending Bloom
Using meticulously crafted platforms, patterns, and layers, Edmark’s art explores the seemingly magical properties that are present in spiral geometries.
Breakthrough: Connecting The Drops
Lydia Bourouiba studies how bacteria and viruses hitch a ride inside the droplets of sneezes, raindrops, toilet splatter.