Naturalists
Naturalists
More than just nature guides, our naturalists are engaging storytellers, each with their own rich experiences and fascinating tales from the field. They are as different as their specialties—which range from geology to zoology—and their knowledge about the natural world runs wide and deep. And while they are schooled in science, they have a knack for describing species and natural phenomena in relatable ways, whether explaining the behavior of a brown bear to an elementary school student or describing the physics of glacier formation to a Ph.D. holder. They know their destination inside and out and, often, they call it home.
Our naturalists are also inspiring travel companions who participate fully in the expedition, leading excursions and also joining guests at meals or in the lounge over drinks. Each team is made of naturalists with a range of specialties, so you can set out with a botanist on a morning hike and then take an afternoon Zodiac ride with a marine biologist. Or if a naturalist shares a particular passion of yours—say birding or geology—you can choose to join the excursions they lead. Our guests have been known to book another trip just to travel with a particular naturalist again.
More than just nature guides, our naturalists are engaging storytellers, each with their own rich experiences and fascinating tales from the field. They are as different as their specialties—which range from geology to zoology—and their knowledge about the natural world runs wide and deep. And while they are schooled in science, they have a knack for describing species and natural phenomena in relatable ways, whether explaining the behavior of a brown bear to an elementary school student or describing the physics of glacier formation to a Ph.D. holder. They know their destination inside and out and, often, they call it home....
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Meet our Naturalists
Naturalist
Timothy Martin
Tim Martin has been teaching Geology, Astronomy, Art and Earth Science for over 20 years. Although he grew up in several locations around the United States, he always felt most at home in the natural world. His persistent curiosity led to his undergraduate study of the natural sciences and art, and his love of teaching led to graduate work in Geoscience Education. Beyond classroom study, he has worked with an international Climate and Geologic research expedition in Siberia, he and colleagues flew an experiment on NASA’s zero-gravity research plane, studied volcanoes in Hawaii, and in 2016 Tim was selected as a National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions Grosvenor Teacher fellow. Tim has taught Art in addition to the science classes. Helping students explore their creative side through photography along with learning the technical aspects of working with and firing clay has been a wonderful extension to his scientific and aesthetic pursuits. In his free time, Tim is an active artist, and he enjoys all sorts of outdoor activities with his family. Frequently on weekends you may find him “up close and personal” with Earth Science while hiking and rock climbing.
Naturalist
Santiago Imberti
An ornithologist, photographer, fisherman, climber, and writer, Santiago Imberti was born and raised in southern Patagonia, Argentina. He obtained a degree in tourism and later in ornithology, which allowed him to combine his love for nature and the outdoors with his work as a birdwatcher, naturalist, fly fishing, and mountain guide. He has been guiding trips in Patagonia, the Antarctic, and Arctic for some 25 years. However, his main passion is conservation and research therefore off the ships Santiago does field work on birds, mostly in southern Patagonia and is the President of Asociación Ambiente Sur; an NGO that seeks to protect the environment and educate the new generations on a sustainable way of life in southern Patagonia. From 2009 to 2014 he has coordinated the project to save the now critically endangered Hooded Grebe, which is an endemic bird in Patagonia; and the creation of Patagonia National Park, a massive protected area that aims to save the grebe and some of the least know habitats in South America. His many articles and stories have been published in scientific journals, popular travel magazines, books, and since his singing abilities are rather poor, he has produced a couple CDs of the beautiful bird sounds of South America, Patagonia, and Antarctica. He lives in Punta Arenas, southern Patagonia, Chile, with his wife and son.
Naturalist
Eva Westerholm
Eva is an animal loving outdoor enthusiast who has guided in the polar regions and many of the countries in between for over 15 years. She grew up on the west coast of Sweden and travelled extensively with her family throughout Europe. Eva credits this early exposure to new cultures as an inspiration to keep exploring and has not slowed down since. Looking for an adventure of her own, she took a job as mess girl on a small vessel in the Arctic Archipelago of Svalbard under the midnight sun. Eva fell in love with the sea and has not stopped sailing since and now has worked nearly every role possible on expedition ships. Not only is Eva an avid birder and a keen naturalist, but she is also very interested in human history and the stories people and places tell. Wanting to learn more she studied at the University of Gothenburg and University of Sydney Australia where she has earned a degree in Social Anthropology. Eva loves sharing her knowledge and experiences, but she values what she learns from her fellow travelers, guests, and colleagues, even more. Currently Eva lives in the beautiful San Juan mountains of Colorado where she enjoys skiing, hiking, and biking. Her work and travelling lifestyle do not allow for a pet at home, so the closest thing to it is a sourdough starter that she has managed to keep alive for over 8 years.
Naturalist
Kimberly Baldwin
Family vacations to the Jersey shore engendered a deep love affair between the ocean and Kimberly Baldwin. But growing up in Pennsylvania proved challenging for a hopeful marine biologist. College afforded the opportunity to earn a B.S. in Marine Biology, work for a marine consortium in Virginia, and marine institutes in the Florida Keys and Catalina Island, California. This was followed by a master’s degree in education while stationed in Mallorca, Spain. Other employment was equally colorful. Early on, Kimberly worked for a summer in Denali National Park washing buses and backpacking 3 nights a week in the tundra and forests. She guided guests on bird and whale trips in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and taught fourth graders in American Samoa. For the past 15 years Kimberly instructed science courses at a private high school in Costa Rica; teaching: A.P. environmental science, physics, chemistry and leading marine biology students on worm digs, conchology studies, tidal pool explorations and snorkel trips. There are a few more marine biology students in college these days thanks to her classes. She is now with you and ready to share her knowledge of the briny environment. Kimberly believes that a person only wants to protect what they care about and can only care about something if they understand it. This has been her philosophy for the hundreds of people she has had the pleasure and honor to guide or teach over the years. Kim is married to Lindblad National Geographic Naturalist Daniel Baldwin, they currently call Huntingdon, Pennsylvania home.
Naturalist
Mario Placidi
Mario Placidi Spring, Italian, has experienced outdoor life since childhood when he started moving his first steps as a mountaineer with his father. An Aerospace Engineer by education, he has soon quit his office job to embrace a life where his free spirit could wander and explore the precious nature of our planet. A freeride skier, climber and paragliding pilot, his interests also include astronomy, meteorology and everything related to the polar regions. Among his adventures is the solo climb of Cerro Aconcagua (6962 m), the ski descent of Mount Kazbek (5033 m, Caucasus range) and the crossing of part of the Tien Shan Range (Kazakhstan) by foot and paraglider. In 2014 he moved to Svalbard, Norway, where he attended, at the local University, a one-year study program called Arctic Nature Guide. There he had the chance to spend a winter in Longyearbyen and fall in love with the arctic nature. Since then, he has enjoyed about 600 days of work as an Expedition Guide and Leader in the Polar Regions (Svalbard, Greenland and Antarctica), his purpose being creating happiness among the people around him and encouraging them to pursue their dreams.
Naturalist
Adrián Saborío
Adrián Saborío, is 31-years-old and a nature enthusiast from Turrubares, Costa Rica. Growing up amidst the flow of tourists, Adrián developed an admiration for guides whom he regarded as heroes. This admiration sparked his academic journey into political science, with a keen focus on sustainability, leading him to delve into the field of environmental tourism management. Adrián’s academic pursuits seamlessly blended with his passion for birdwatching and photography. Armed with my tour guide license, he has been guiding cruise groups since 2021, leveraging years of experience with a diverse range of groups, including students, corporate teams, and universities. His emphasis on the academic and environmental aspects of our stunning national parks creates a unique and enriching experience for those under my guidance. Nature serves as a profound source of tranquility for him, and capturing the intricate beauty of birds through the lens has evolved into a true calling. Adrián’s journey as a guide is not just about showcasing the natural wonders; it's about fostering a deeper connection between people and the environment.
Naturalist
Julia Huggins
Julia is an earth-systems scientist who studies how the interactions between living and non-living parts of Earth’s environments can shape ecosystems and global climate. She is based in Squamish, BC, Canada, and through her research collaborations she also works at research laboratories in Europe and spends time on open-ocean scientific research vessels around the world. Julia’s passion for environmental science and education started at a young age when she grew up exploring the mountains of Wyoming and the seacoast of New England. Julia studied biology at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR, and spent several years researching how symbiotic relationships between trees, mushrooms, and soil microbes drive ecosystem-level processes. This work brought her to remote corners of the world, including New Zealand, Patagonia, and Alaska. Julia completed her Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC, Canada, where she studied how chemical processes carried out by tiny microorganisms regulate the health of marine environments. For this research, Julia organized oceanography trips in British Columbia and month-long research expeditions in the Pacific Ocean off the coasts of Mexico and Chile. Throughout her research career, Julia has combined her love of the outdoors with her work as a science educator. Julia has worked as a naturalist and backcountry guide for more than 10 years throughout the Pacific Northwest. She is also a co-founder of the BOAT non-profit that supports access to outdoor education, and she helps make science fun and engaging as a co-host of the Nerdy About Nature podcast. She believes deeply in the power of fun, accessible, place-based education; sharing the things that inspire her about the natural world is the root of her motivation for research and science outreach.
Naturalist
Kylee Walterman
Kylee Walterman grew up in central California where she was in close proximity to the ocean, mountains, deserts, valleys, and national forests; this is where she found a passion for the natural world. She attained a Marine Science degree with a biology minor from CSU Monterey Bay and during that time, developed her love of outdoor activities like hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, diving, sailing, and photography. Kylee has done internships working in close contact with big cat species and in local rehabilitation centers, where she fell in love with birds of prey. Most recently she has been a naturalist and captain out of Monterey Bay running whale watching excursions where she’s conducted field interpretation during some incredible wildlife activity including orca predation events and mass migrations. She also has spent time traveling the PNW, B.C, Alaska, the Channel Islands and has studied in South Africa. Kylee has taken up an interest in connecting people to beautiful experiences and igniting the spirit of conservation. She takes every trip as a true adventure and believes the best part of an expedition is the unknown.
Naturalist
Kerstin Langenberger
Kerstin Langenberger is deeply in love with the Polar regions. Originally from Germany, she lived in Iceland for seven years where she graduated with a degree in environmental science. She later spent a year on Svalbard, Norway, where she became an Arctic nature guide. Since then, Kerstin has been working on expedition ships traveling to both polar regions and strives to be an ambassador for the rapidly changing ecosystems found there. The quote often attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” sums up Kerstin’s drive to live a life centered around nature and conservation. In addition to being a hut warden and ranger in Iceland, she spent a year working in conservation in New Zealand and joined the crew of Greenpeace's flagship Rainbow Warrior in Scandinavia. Recently, she spent two summer seasons on the subantarctic island of South Georgia where she supported the important work of the South Georgia Heritage Trust. Kerstin also works as a professional nature photographer and lecturer. Her best-known photograph of an emaciated polar bear made millions of people reflect on climate change. Other works of hers have been published worldwide in numerous international magazines and nature photography competitions. She has written and photographed several books, given a TEDx talk, and continues to tour German-speaking countries with a very successful presentation on the European Arctic and climate change.
Naturalist
Alex Harper
Alex Harper is based in Southern Nevada, where he spends most of his time as a freelance naturalist, science communicator, birding guide, speaker, and writer. He serves on the board of directors for the Las Vegas-based Audubon chapter, as well as multiple committees for various organizations related to wildlife and habitat conservation. Alex did not imagine ending up in Las Vegas. He grew up between the mangrove bays and Florida Everglades in the Miami area. His free time as a kid was often spent getting bitten by lizards, climbing trees, and staining his clothes in estuarine mud. From an early age, he gravitated towards marine mammals, reptiles and amphibians, and birds. It would be birds that ultimately captivated his curiosity and became the primary focus of his interests. Over the course of his professional career, he has conducted bird population counts across the western United States for the National Park Service and the renewable energy industries, been a birding guide on the Pribilof Islands of Alaska and a remote Amazon lodge and counted migratory hawks in the Florida Keys. The desire to share the beauty of the natural world gets Alex out of bed in the morning. He believes that there is no shortage of opportunities to be moved by the natural world, to experience awe and wonder in it, and that it is through connecting people with nature that we can value it enough to preserve its functioning ecosystems. For this reason, he owns and operates Nature in Mind, a business that brings wellness and science together for kids and adults of all ages. Alex loves to swap stories and learn from his colleagues and Lindblad guests. Alex enjoys hiking, trail running, photography, reading, writing, and practicing mindfulness. He is grateful and proud to step foot on Lindblad ships to keep him wild.
Naturalist
Erland Folstad
Born in Norway, Erlend has been attracted to nature and wildlife since he was a young man. He started exploring nature early while backcountry skiing, hiking, and hunting in the Norwegian wilderness. He started his professional career as a police officer with a special responsibility for search and rescue, and supervision of hunting in Åndalsnes, in the fjords of Norway. From 1996 until 2004, Erlend worked for the governor of Svalbard as chief inspector supervising search and rescue, and wildlife and nature protection. During his years in Svalbard, Erlend spent many days on field work and expeditions, both in summer and winter. His work brought him to every corner of Svalbard and he also organized and spent time as an expedition leader for kayaking, mountaineering, and skiing expeditions in the archipelago. Erlend has a great passion for the Arctic and has been on expeditions every year since 2004 to Svalbard either as a guide, or on private tours. The last two years he has been a part of the Lindblad Expeditions–National Geographic team and has shared his passion with the guests. His enthusiasm for Svalbard also includes a great interest in the polar history of Norwegian explorers and hunters. Erlend lives with his family in Aalesund surrounded by the majestic Sunnmøre Alps and Geirangerfjord and Hjørundfjord, two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. When not working as the CEO of Nord Helikopter he spends his time exploring the fjords and surrounding mountains.
Naturalist
Karson Winslow
Karson has been working on the water for the last 15 years. A San Francisco native, she holds a 100-ton USCG captains license and PADI Divemaster. Karson attended UC Santa Cruz and received a bachelor's degree in Anthropology, focusing on Archaeology. She followed up her degree with Archaeological Field School training from Cabrillo College. After college, Karson spent a summer as a Natural History interpreter intern for the Friends of the Eagle River Nature Center, a non-profit partnering with the Chugach State Park in Alaska. Karson combined her passion for the ocean and fascination for material culture and continued her studies to acquire a degree in Maritime Archaeology from Flinders University in South Australia. Karson worked as a field archaeologist in areas like the US Virgin Islands of the Caribbean, the high desert of Northern California and St Augustine, Florida, the oldest European port in the United States. She has worked as a shipwreck monitor, diver and has published her work in Archaeological journals. The ocean has taken her to some of the most beautiful places on the planet. She has been fortunate to participate in a wide variety of Maritime activities and visit corners of the globe. Some of her favorites have been Cetacean Surveys off the Mariana Trench, racing in Bermuda for the 2017 America's Cup, circumnavigating the globe over 16 months with the World Are, exploring Tanna and the volcano in Vanuatu, swimming with hammerheads in Hawaii, and hiking the Iditarod National Historic Trail outside of Eagle River, Alaska. Karson now calls Kona, Hawaii home where she is also a volunteer for the Ke Kai Ola Marine Mammal Center and participates in outreach and protection for the endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals. An avid sailor, Karson and her partner have a Valiant 40 sailboat that they keep in French Polynesia.
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