The Authors – Life Gives Life

Johan Rockström

Prof. Dr. Johan Rockström is the Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Professor at the Institute of Earth and Environmental Science at Potsdam University and Professor in Water Systems and Global Sustainability at the University of Stockholm.

Rockström is an internationally recognized scientist on global sustainability issues, who led the development of the new Planetary Boundaries framework for human development in the current era of rapid global change at the Stockholm Resilience Centre. He is a leading scientist on global water resources, with about 25 years of experience from applied water research in tropical regions, and more than 150 research publications in fields ranging from applied land and water management to global sustainability.

In addition to his research endeavors, which have been widely used to guide policy, Rockström provides strategic scientific guidance and consults several governments and business networks. He acts as an advisor for sustainable development issues at noteworthy international meetings, such as the World Economic Forum, the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conferences (UNFCCC). Furthermore, he chairs or co-chairs the advisory board for the EAT Foundation, the Earth Commission, and the Earth League, is Chief Scientist of Conservation International, member of the European Investment Bank Advisory Group, and elected member of the German
Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

Mattias Klum

Photographer, artist, filmmaker and conservationist, uses his evocative storytelling and visual artistry to link humanity with nature. National Geographic Photographer and Explorer since 1991. He shaped 13 cover stories for the notable magazine, directed 12 documentaries, published 17 books, some co-authored with admired scientists like Johan Rockström and Jane Goodall. Honored with ample awards such as Sweden’s royal medal, an honorary doctorate and a Young Global Leader nomination.

Open Planet Studios (formerly Studio Silverback)

Open Planet Studios is an award-winning production team formed by Colin Butfield and Jonnie Hughes, who first worked together on the groundbreaking Silverback Films / WWF / Netflix project Our Planet. They also worked on Silverback’s David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet, and Colin was Executive Producer on Johan Rockstrom’s Breaking Boundaries, both available on Netflix.

In 2020, they formed Studio Silverback, which quickly produced a series of films in partnership with Prince William’s Earthshot Prize, the YouTube Originals series Seat at the Table with Jack Harries, and Sir David Attenborough’s powerful address on the first day of the Glasgow Climate COP26.
Open Planet Studios is a leading player in stabilizing our planet and has a reputation for top quality impact production across many film types, working with a host of partners from broadcasters to foundations to small NGO’s, educators and scientists. The Life Gives Life team is pleased to work with Open Planet Studios on companion film(s), messaging, and video podcast materials.

Tim Beringer

Tim Beringer has a background in geography and environmental sciences and completed a PhD in Earth system modelling. His research has focused on modelling the global carbon cycle, land use dynamics, and climate impacts. More recently, his work has expanded to include biosphere stewardship, planetary boundaries, tipping points, and the role of carbon offsets in climate mitigation. With 20 years of experience, he has worked across a broad spectrum of global change issues, including climate change, biodiversity loss, food systems, land-based mitigation, and carbon offset strategies.

Rachel Clark

Rachel Clark is a science writer and biologist who has covered human impacts on climate, health, and the natural world for 30 years. Her writing appears in varied national outlets, science textbooks, and Mothering Nature, her reported column at Psychology Today. She’s the author of The Blackfish Prophecy endorsed by Jane Goodall and Bill McKibben, and she recently served the Science Communications Team with U.S. federal division that rolled out the first covid vaccines. Her ongoing work focuses on inspiring science-based global paradigm shift towards planetary harmony.