Cristina “Mitty” Mittermeier is a marine biologist, photographer, and conservationist who has spent the last 25 years unveiling the wonders and secrets beneath the surface of our oceans, and the impacts of human activity on these ecosystems. Cristina is also a Co-founder of SeaLegacy, an NGO working to create healthy and abundant oceans for us and for the planet. 

In this episode of Impact in the 21st Century, hear Cristina’s story, what drives her to take photos, how you can use social media to further your own impactful cause, and how you can practice Cristina’s concept of “enoughness”.

Sign SeaLegacy’s petition to the UN for plastic reduction

Sign the petition to protect wild salmon from industrial farming

Learn more about SeaLegacy

Make an impact on Only One

See Cristina’s photographs

Follow Cristina on Instagram

This episode was mixed and mastered by Musa Habib.

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More About Cristina:

Cristina believes that stunning visual storytelling is the key to unlocking critical action to help heal our ocean and save our planet. Beginning her career as a marine biologist in her native Mexico, she soon discovered the power of imagery in ocean advocacy work. She went on to become an internationally recognized National Geographic photographer, public speaker, and founder of The International League of Conservation Photographers. In 2014, she co-founded SeaLegacy and, in 2020, expanded that work with the formation of Only One, a digital action platform built to support and uplift the ocean conservation community while driving action to achieve measurable, sustainable and equitable returns for people and the ocean.

Mittermeier is a Sony Artisan of Imagery and, along with her partner Paul Nicklen, was named one of National Geographic's Adventurers of the Year in 2018. She is the recipient of many prestigious awards, including the Smithsonian Conservation Photographer of the Year Award and the Imaging Award for Photographers Who Give Back. In 2021, she received the Seattle Aquarium's Sylvia Earle Medal and Travel + Leisure's Global Vision Award. She was also named one of the 100 Latinos Most Committed to Climate Action. and aligns with Rolex's Perpetual Planet initiative.

Earlier this year, Mittermeier received an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts, Honoris Causa, from Simon Fraser University.

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What is Impact in the 21st Century?

Impact in the 21st Century is a podcast created by Simbi Foundation, a non-profit organization working to support the next 3.5 million refugee learners with solar-powered classrooms called BrightBoxes. This podcast celebrates the impactful work being done around the globe, and shares the stories of the inspiring individuals who are behind it. In this special series, we’re focusing on the people working to protect our natural world, innovate greener technologies, and ensure that nobody is left behind in the process.

Who hosts Impact in the 21st Century?

Aaron Friedland is a National Geographic Explorer, PhD Candidate in Econometrics at UBC, Executive Director of Simbi Foundation, and innovator of the BrightBox solution and the unique reading platform Simbi.

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