AOA, a leading immersive experience design, production, and project management company, and the University of Central Florida (UCF) have announced that Disney veteran Joe Rohde will be giving an exclusive presentation at the Fairwinds Alumni Center in Orlando on 5 October. The event is in support of the Pangje Foundation’s upcoming snow leopard expedition in Nepal.
In Art & science collaborations in remote places, the former Imagineer and Explorer’s Club member will show his documentary film, The Leopard in the Land, and speak about collaboration between art and science in remote regions like Mongolia, the Himalayas, and the Arctic. Rohde will also be available to answer questions.
Tickets for this limited-capacity, one-time-only event are available here. All ticket holders will receive a signed art print by Rohde.
Attraction design icon
Rhode joined Virgin Galactic as its experience architect in 2021, following an acclaimed career at Disney, where he established a reputation for his creative, authenticity-focused approach. He served as lead designer of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney World’s fourth theme park in Florida, and creative lead for Marvel attractions at Disney parks, experiences and products, among many other acclaimed projects. Rohde is an in-demand speaker whose talks are as inspiring as his attractions.
His documentary film Leopard in the Land was released in 2015. It follows Rohde as he embarks on a month-long journey on horseback across the Altai Mountains of Western Mongolia, where he aims to paint large-scale landscapes to raise money for snow leopard conservation.
As the expedition encounters blizzards, contrary camels, and the impending Mongolian winter, it investigates why we travel, how we interact with the world, and the massive impact our choices have on the wider environment, including the mysterious snow leopard.
In other news, AOA’s Denise Hatcher will moderate Bridging Research and Experience: Diving into MOTE SEA! at the 2024 AZA Annual Conference. She will be joined by Dan Bebak of Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, Jonathan Henry from TVS, Allan Gladstone of Whiting-Turner and Arthur Price of AOA.
