Jon Bowermaster

Jon Bowermaster is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, journalist, and author, recognized for his extensive work with National Geographic and his advocacy for environmental conservation. After documenting a seven-month dogsled expedition across Antarctica for National Geographic Magazine in 1989, Jon Bowermaster went on to establish a distinguished career as an award-winning documentary filmmaker, journalist, and author, earning six-time grantee status with the National Geographic Expeditions Council. His extensive journalistic contributions as a freelance writer from 1986 to 1998 appeared in prestigious national and international publications including The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, Outside, and Rolling Stone. Earlier in his career, Bowermaster worked for New Times magazine and co-founded The Daily Planet (later The Planet) in Iowa.

He published his first book, ‘Governor: An Oral Biography of Robert D. Ray,’ while producing industrial films, television commercials, and his initial documentaries for Iowa Public Television from 1977 to 1984. Bowermaster’s commitment to environmental exploration solidified with his ambitious OCEANS 8 project, spanning from 1998 to 2008. This decade-long initiative involved circumnavigating the world’s oceans by sea kayak with his teams, taking them to diverse regions such as the Aleutian Islands, Vietnam, French Polynesia, and Gabon.

He also contributes his expertise as the head of the advisory committee for Adventure Scientists and is a valued member of the board for Mark Ruffalo’s Water Defense, continuing his dedicated advocacy for environmental conservation through media and strategic leadership.