Jon Bowermaster

Background and education

Born in Normal, Illinois, in 1954, Jon grew up in suburbs of Chicago and Rockford, Ill., until attending Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where he worked at the Des Moines Register for two years as a student. He graduated in 1976 with a bachelor's degree in journalism. In 1977, Jon received his master's degree in public affairs reporting from American University in Washington, DC.

Early career

After graduate school, Jon moved to New York City to work for New Times magazine, before returning to Iowa as co-founder and editor of the weekly alternative newspaper The Daily Planet (then The Planet). Living in Iowa from 1977–1984, he wrote his first book, Governor: An Oral Biography of Robert D. Ray, and worked in the commercial film business producing industrial films, television commercials and his first documentary films for Iowa Public Television. In 1985, Jon moved back to New York, taking a job as managing editor of Record magazine, owned and published by Rolling Stone. From 1986 to 1998, he worked as a freelance magazine writer for numerous national and international publications, including The New York Times Magazine, Atlantic Monthly, New Republic, Outside, Men’s Journal and many more.

First National Geographic Assignment

In 1986, Jon befriended polar explorer Will Steger – who had just returned from a historic, unsupported dogsled adventure to the North Pole. As Steger was negotiating the rights to the story of his upcoming Trans-Antarctica expedition, he introduced Jon to editors at the National Geographic Magazine who assigned Jon to cover Steger’s seven-month-long crossing of Antarctica by dogsled in 1989–1990.

OCEANS 8

From 1998–2008, Jon’s OCEANS 8 project, a series of expeditions to explore the world's ocean from the seat of a sea kayak, allowed Jon and his teams—comprising some of the world's best photographers, filmmakers, scientists and navigators—to reach corners of the world rarely seen. The trips were funded primarily by grants from the National Geographic Expeditions Council and corporate sponsors including Mountain Hardwear, Timberland and others.

Jon began the project with the dream of visiting each of the seven continents, plus Oceania. Comprising eight adventures, the long-term project took Jon and his teams to the heart of the Aleutian Islands, down the coast of Vietnam, through the Tuamotu Atolls in French Polynesia, across the high plains of Bolivia/Chile/Argentina, and up the wild coastline of Gabon in West Africa. Jon explored Croatia's Dalmatian Coast, and visited Tasmania in 2006. In February 2008, Jon and his team completed the final expedition in the 10-year-long project, along the Antarctic Peninsula.

Stories from each OCEANS 8 expedition resulted in books, magazines, lectures, television programs and educational curriculum for the National Geographic Society.

Antarctica

After Jon’s first trip to Antarctica with Will Steger, he developed a passion for the continent and has made many trips back since, to both the high, cold interior and along its 600-mile Peninsula. In 2008 Jon completed his ten-year OCEANS 8 project with a trip to the Larsen Ice Shelf and the Antarctic Peninsula, which is the subject of his recently released film, TERRA ANTARCTICA: Rediscovering the Seventh Continent. The high-definition, hour-long film chronicles Bowermaster’s exploration of the Peninsula by sea kayak, foot and small plane and was named the best “Ocean Issues” film at the 2009 BLUE Ocean Film Festival in Savannah, Georgia in June 2009.

Notes From Sea Level Blog

Over the years, Jon has traveled to more than 80 countries, or roughly one third of the world’s nations, giving him a unique perspective on how the world is impacted by many of today’s hotly debated environmental issues, including climate change, plastic pollution, overfishing and more.

Through his Web site, www.jonbowermaster.com, and daily blog, Notes From Sea Level, Jon continues his reporting on the health of the world’s ocean and lives of people who depend on it.

Media coverage

Jon’s books, films and adventures have received significant media coverage in a wide range of outlets including The New York Times, National Geographic, The Washington Post, Scientific American, Men’s Journal, ABC's Good Morning America, National Geographic Adventure, The Huffington Post, Condé Nast Traveler, Sierra Trading Post, PlumTV, EarthKeepers, Voice of America, ABC News, Forbes.com, Canoe & Kayak, Wend, Adventure Kayak, Paddler and Men’s Vogue

Awards and grants

2009, BLUE Ocean Film Festival, “Terra Antarctica” Best Ocean Issues Film

2008, Croatia’s “Golden Pen” award

2008, “Birthplace of the Winds,” Best Adventure Travel film, Reel Paddling Film Festival

2007, Santa Barbara Ocean Film Festival, “OCEANS 8” Best Oceans Series

1999, Lowell Thomas award for Environmental Reporting

1998–2008, six grants from National Geographic Expeditions Council

Filmography

In Production:

Lectures