Dr Huw Lewis-Jones

Associate Professor of Environment and Culture

Dr Huw Lewis-Jones is an environmental historian and expedition leader. 

Huw is a storyteller and seafarer, a field naturalist and wilderness guide, an award-winning author and teacher. He has a PhD from the University of Cambridge, directs research projects across the world, and leads voyages to challenging places. He is a creative adventurer and conservation advocate, exploring new ways of thinking. 

Huw has written best-selling books that have now been published in eighteen languages. He continues to work as an international photo editor, an art director, an academic researcher, sometimes as museum curator, and often as polar bear guard. His first ever job was as a beach cleaner. These days he encourages his students to spend as much time as they can outside and offline.

Huw’s books include The Sea Journal, Explorers’ Sketchbooks, Imagining the Arctic, Archipelago, Ocean Portraits, The Lifeboat, The Crossing of Antarctica, In Search of the South Pole, The Conquest of Everest, and The Writer’s Map, which picked up multiple prizes including the Stanford Award for Illustrated Book of the Year. He is currently at work on new collections – Swallowed by a Whale, and The Animal Image – and a larger ongoing research project relating to wild nature and environmental histories of photography. 

In recent years Huw has been teaching in lecture halls, at festivals, on ships, by glaciers, and on remote volcanic islands, from the South Pacific to the High Arctic. He likes to navigate boats into the ice, taking people north to see whales and polar bears in the wild, or south, to penguin rookeries, albatross colonies, and yet more ice.

Huw also curates photo exhibitions and has appeared in BBC documentaries. He has been a Fellow at Harvard University and Curator of both the Scott Polar Research Institute and the National Maritime Museum in London. He won the Leif Erikson Award in 2015 for his advocacy of exploration, photography and wilderness heritage. Most recently, he was Green Visiting Professor at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

In 2018 Huw became the new Senior Lecturer at Falmouth University, where he teaches his students about culture, history, conservation, and creativity. He is based in the Institute of Photography but also works with creative partners across many time-zones. He can mostly be found making books and messing about in boats. 

External Links

Contact details

Email Huw.LewisJones@falmouth.ac.uk
An Explorers sketchbook
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Man standing in snow next to North Pole sign
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photographs on a light box
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Portrait of Huw at table with camera, coffee and journal
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Group on boat next to iceberg
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    Qualifications

    Qualifications

    Year Qualification Awarding body
    2007 PhD: Arctic, Visual Culture, Environment, Exploration University of Cambridge
    2002 MPhil: Polar Studies, Humanities, Social Sciences University of Cambridge
    2001 BA: Geography, Conservation, Arctic, Himalayas University of Cambridge

    Honors and awards

    Year Description
    2019

    Winner. The Writer’s Map, British Book Design and Production Awards, London
    2019

    Winner. The Sea Journal, Gold Medal, Motovun Book Awards, Frankfurt
    2019

    Winner. The Writer’s Map, World Fantasy Awards, Los Angeles
    2019

    Winner. The Writer’s Map, Gold Medal, Motovun Book Awards, Frankfurt
    2018

    Winner. Explorers’ Sketchbooks, First China Nature Book Award, Beijing
    2018

    Winner. The Writer’s Map, Edward Stanford Award for Illustrated Book of the Year, London
    2018

    Winner. Explorers’ Sketchbooks, Taiwan Open Book Award, Taipei
    2017

    Finalist. Explorers' Sketchbooks, Edward Stanford Travel Book of the Year, London
    2016

    Finalist. Across the Arctic Ocean, History Award at the Banff Mountain Festival
    2013

    Winner. The Conquest of Everest, History Award at the Banff Mountain Festival
    2012

    Winner. Mountain Heroes, Adventure Book of the Year at the World ITB Awards, Frankfurt
    2012

    Finalist. Mountain Heroes, Mountain Literature at the Banff Mountain Festival
    2011

    Finalist. Ocean Portraits, the Mountbatten Maritime Media Award for Best Literature, London

    Membership of external committees

    Fellow, Royal Geographical Society (2003-Present)

    Research Interests

    Research interests and expertise

    Environmental Humanities
    Animal History
    Photography
    Visual Culture
    Polar Regions
    Sustainability
    Fieldcraft
    Conservation and Heritage
    Public History
    Writing and Publishing
    Curation
    Public Speaking
    Wildlife Film 

    Research centre and group affiliations

    Environmental Futures

    Research Topics

    • Animal History
    • Environmental Humanities
    • Photography
    • Visual Culture

    Research Outputs

    Publications and research outputs

    Book

    Lewis-Jones, Huw ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6455-4019 (2019) Archipelago: An Atlas of Imagined Islands. Thames & Hudson, London. ISBN 978-0500022566 Item availability may be restricted.
    [thumbnail of Archipelago] [thumbnail of 9780500022566_archipelago-an-atlas-of-imagined-islands_sprayed-edges.jpg]

    Lewis-Jones, Huw ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6455-4019 (2019) The Sea Journal: Seafarers’ Sketchbooks. Thames & Hudson, London. ISBN 978-0500021279 Item availability may be restricted.
    [thumbnail of The Sea Journal] [thumbnail of Screenshot 2019-11-01 at 17.06.48.png]

    Lewis-Jones, Huw ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6455-4019 (2018) The Writer’s Map: An Atlas of Imaginary Lands. University of Chicago Press, Chicago. ISBN 978-0226596631 Item availability may be restricted.
    [thumbnail of The Writer's Map US Edition] [thumbnail of 9780500519509_in01_the-writers-map.jpg]

    Lewis-Jones, Huw ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6455-4019 and Axelsson, Ragnar (2017) Faces of the North: Ragnar Axlesson. Crymogea, Reykjavík. ISBN 978-9935420404
    [thumbnail of Faces of the North]

    Lewis-Jones, Huw ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6455-4019 (2017) Imagining the Arctic: Heroism, Spectacle and Polar Exploration. Tauris Historical Geography Series . I.B. Tauris / Bloomsbury, London. ISBN 978-0755600991 Item availability may be restricted.
    [thumbnail of Imagining the Arctic] [thumbnail of Huws New Book 2017.JPG]

    Lewis-Jones, Huw ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6455-4019 and Herbert, Kari (2016) Explorers’ Sketchbooks: The Art of Discovery. Chronicle, San Francisco. ISBN 978-0500252192
    [thumbnail of Explorers Sketchbooks US Edition] [thumbnail of 9780500252192_in01_explorers-sketchbook_.jpg]

    Lewis-Jones, Huw ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6455-4019 (2015) Across the Arctic Ocean: Original Photographs from the Last Great Polar Journey. Thames & Hudson, London. ISBN 978-0500252147
    [thumbnail of Across the Arctic Ocean]

    Lewis-Jones, Huw ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6455-4019 and Lowe, George (2014) The Crossing of Antarctica: Original Photographs from the Epic Journey that Fulfilled Shackleton’s Dream. Thames & Hudson, London. ISBN 978-0500252024
    [thumbnail of The Crossing of Antarctica] [thumbnail of 9780500252024_in02_the-crossing-of-antarctica_.jpg]

    Lewis-Jones, Huw ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6455-4019 and Barnett, Cristian (2014) Life on the Line: People of the Arctic Circle. Polarworld, London. ISBN 978-0955525582
    [thumbnail of Life on the Line]

    Axelsson, Ragnar (2014) Ragnar Axelsson: Photo Poche. Actes Sud, Paris. ISBN 978-2330017576
    [thumbnail of Photo Poche]

    Lewis-Jones, Huw ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6455-4019 and Lowe, George (2013) The Conquest of Everest: Original Photographs from the Legendary First Ascent. Thames & Hudson, London. ISBN 978-0500544235
    [thumbnail of The Conquest of Everest]

    Lowe, George (2013) Letters from Everest. Silverbear, London. ISBN 978-0955525537
    [thumbnail of Letters from Everest]

    Lewis-Jones, Huw ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6455-4019 and Millard, Nigel (2013) The Lifeboat: Courage on our Coasts. Conway and RNLI, London. ISBN 978-1844862177
    [thumbnail of The Lifeboat]

    Lewis-Jones, Huw ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6455-4019 and Parry, Bruce (2011) Arctic: Bruce Parry. BBC and Conway, London. ISBN 978-1844861309
    [thumbnail of Arctic Bruce Parry]

    Lewis-Jones, Huw ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6455-4019 and Herbert, Kari (2011) In Search of the South Pole. Conway, London. ISBN 978-1844861378
    [thumbnail of In Search of the South Pole]

    Lewis-Jones, Huw ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6455-4019 (2011) Mountain Heroes: Portraits of Adventure. Conway, London. ISBN 978-0762779918
    [thumbnail of Mountain Heroes]

    Lewis-Jones, Huw ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6455-4019 (2010) Face to Face: Ocean Portraits. Conway, London. ISBN 978-1844861248
    [thumbnail of Ocean Portraits]

    Lewis-Jones, Huw ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6455-4019 and Axelsson, Ragnar (2010) Last Days of the Arctic. Polarworld, London. ISBN 978-9935420305
    [thumbnail of Last Days of the Arctic]

    Lewis-Jones, Huw ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6455-4019 (2008) Face to Face: Polar Portraits. Scott Polar Research Institute / Polarworld, Cambridge / London. ISBN 978-0901021083
    [thumbnail of Polar Portraits]

    Research Students

    Current research students

    Huw welcomes prospective PhD students on subjects ranging from wildlife, environment and sustainability, photography and film, to creative futures more broadly. Please see our first IOP doctoral brief ENVIRO/PHOTO for more information.

    Teaching

    Areas of teaching

    • Animal History
    • Conservation and Heritage
    • Curation
    • Environmental Humanities
    • Fieldcraft
    • Photography
    • Polar Regions
    • Public Speaking
    • Sustainability
    • Visual Culture
    • Wildlife Film
    • Writing and Publishing

    Courses taught

    • BA(Hons) Marine and Natural History Photography

    Professional Engagement

    Independent professional practice

    Author and Editor

    • 2020 Swallowed by a Whale: How to Survive the Writing Life (London: British Library) 
    • 2019 Archipelago: An Atlas of Imagined Islands (London: Thames & Hudson)
    • 2019 The Sea Journal: Seafarers’ Sketchbooks (London: Thames & Hudson)
    • 2018 The Writer’s Map: An Atlas of Imaginary Lands (Chicago: University of Chicago Press)
    • 2017 Imagining the Arctic (London: IB Tauris)
    • 2017 Faces of the North: Ragnar Axelsson (Reykjavík: Crymogea)
    • 2016 Explorers’ Sketchbooks: The Art of Discovery (London: Thames & Hudson)
    • 2015 Across the Arctic Ocean (London: Thames & Hudson)
    • 2014 The Crossing of Antarctica (London: Thames & Hudson)
    • 2014 Ragnar Axelsson (Paris: Actes Sud)
    • 2014 Life on the Line: People of the Arctic Circle (London: Polarworld)
    • 2013 The Conquest of Everest (London: Thames & Hudson) 
    • 2013 The Lifeboat (London: Conway/Royal National Lifeboat Institution)
    • 2013 Letters from Everest (London: Silverbear)
    • 2011 In Search of the South Pole (London: Conway)
    • 2011 Arctic: Bruce Parry (London: Conway/BBC)
    • 2011 Mountain Heroes: Portraits of Adventure (London: Conway) 
    • 2010 Face to Face: Ocean Portraits (London: Conway)
    • 2010 Last Days of the Arctic: Ragnar Axelsson (Reykjavík: Crymogea)
    • 2008 Face to Face: Polar Portraits (Cambridge: Scott Polar Research Institute) 

    Social, community and cultural engagement

    Exhibition Curator

    • 2015 Across the Arctic Ocean: Photographs by Sir Wally Herbert 
    • 2014 Life on the Line: Photographs by Cristian Barnett 
    • 2014 The Crossing of Antarctica: Photographs by George Lowe 
    • 2013 Courage on our Coasts: Photographs by Nigel Millard
    • 2014 The Conquest of Antarctica: Photographs by George Lowe 
    • 2012 Last Days of the Arctic: Photographs by Ragnar Axelsson
    • 2010 Sananquaq: Inuit Art in Britain 
    • 2010 Inuit Art: Masterworks from the Arctic
    • 2009 Flood Cycle: Visual Impressions of a Changing Planet 
    • 2009 John Gale and Sons: Painting the Southern Ocean
    • 2009 Glacial Shift: Alpine Artworks by Emma Stibbon
    • 2008 Face to Face: Polar Photographs by Martin Hartley
    • 2008 Immaqa Aqagu/Maybe Tomorrow: Photographs by Tiina Itkonen
    • 2008 South Georgia: Environmental Histories at the Edge of the World
    • 2008 Nanoq: Photographs by Snæbjörnsdóttir/Wilson
    • 2008 Breaking the Ice: Antarctica with Jörg Schmeisser
    • 2008 The Changing Arctic: Photographs by Louise Murray
    • 2008 First Across: Pioneering Antarctic Photography
    • 2007 Freeze Frame: Historic Polar Photography 


    Film Contributor

    • 2015 Everest Revealed: Imagining the Himalayas, Timeshift for BBC4 (UK) 
    • 2015 Franklin’s Lost Ships, documentary film for PBS Nova (USA), C4 (UK), CBC (Canada) 
    • 2013 Everest: Beyond the Edge, 3D docudrama for General Film Corporation (NZ) 
    • 2012 Frank Wild: Surviving Antarctica, documentary film for BBC2 (UK)  
    • 2011 Antarctica: Natural Histories of Ice,documentary film for BBC4 (UK)
    • 2008 Wilderness Explored: Arctic, Central Australia, Congo, three-part series for BBC4 (UK)
    • 2007 Captain Cook: Obsession and Discovery, ABC (NZ/UK) and History Channel (USA)

    Engagement with professional associations and societies

    Fellow, Royal Geographical Society (2003-Present)
    Polar Guide, IATTO (2010-Present)
    Polar Guide, AECO (2010-Present)
    Conservation Philanthropy, Polar Bears International, WDC, RZSS, WWF (2016-Present) 
    Guest Curator, Guernsey Literary Festival (2019-Present)
    Chair of Judges, WriteStuff Awards (2019-Present)
    Elected Council Member, 1805 Club Charity (2005-2015)
    Editor, The Trafalgar Chronicle Journal (2005-2015)
    Curator of Art, Cambridge University (2007-2010)
    Editor, The Lifeboat Project, The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (2010-2013)

    Professional esteem indicators

    Year Description
    2019

    British Book Design and Production Awards for Book of the Year, London
    2018

    Edward Stanford Award for Illustrated Book of the Year, London
    2017

    The Green Visiting Professorship, University of British Columbia, Vancouver
    2015

    The Leif Erikson Award for ‘services to exploration and heritage’, Iceland
    2003

    Elected Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, London

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