Student Spotlight: Chia-Hsin Lee
I met Chia in 2022. She was working in a California zoo when I met her in a CIG course, but she already had been exploring how she could use video to help her interpretation reach a wider audience. When I met her in class, she was an engaged and attentive student, but it wasn’t until she wow’d us all with her final presentation that I saw the humor and playfulness that is so much a part of who she is outside of class! As she is building her new YouTube channel, I’m happy to spotlight her work here!
Name, org, position:
My name is Chia and I am a YouTuber! My channel is called “Chia Expeditions”.
Describe what you do in interpretation:
I host a YouTube Channel producing videos on Wildlife, Biodiversity, and all things Natural History!
My goal is to make Natural History as fun and engaging as possible, to not only engage people who like Natural History content, but also attract people who normally wouldn’t follow such content. I hope that people find it interesting enough and start to take interest in Natural History, or at least learn some basic concepts while having a good time watching my videos.
What is your favorite part about your work?
My favorite part is that I get to combine Science, Education, and the Art of Filmmaking altogether in what I do!
First, my team works along with scientists to make sure the facts we share are relevant and up-to-date. Then, we try to design the script into something educational that the audience can not only gain something from but also engage in. Last, all the planning, writing, filming, editing, animation, sound, music that goes along with creating a video is an ultimate form of Art creation. It’s the perfect fusion of three distinct disciplines and I love it!
How does the CIG/interpretation help you in your work?
During the CIG Course I learned that each interpretation session should have its goal, objective, theme, and measurement. Before then, I would just be making videos talking about random things that I see with no clear objective, but then afterwards I’ve learned to focus on one main theme for each educational video, and do everything to get the theme across to the audience. My videos turn out to be so much more efficient and effective and engaging!
Brag a little! Tell us about a recent success:
I just got invited to film the process of how the salmon conservation project releases their baby salmon into the wild. They will be using a helicopter so I’ll be filming on a helicopter ride! I DO plan to edit the footage to make a video, so follow my channel if you wanna see how helicopters release juvenile salmon into the wild!
What’s next for you?
Oh! There are a few VERY exciting videos coming up. One of which, we will take you on a journey to collaborate with paleontologists and anthropologists to recreate a scientifically up-to-date model of a prehistoric hominoid and their surroundings. Next up, I’m hoping to get into the nitty-gritty of the conservation projects for Kinmen Otters, and also kickstart a campaign with our online community to do something positive together for the conservation projects.
Can people contact you?
You can find me on my channel Chia Expeditions!
www.youtube.com/@chia_expeditions
You can also email me directly:
chiaexpeditions@gmail.com
I am down for any collaboration! Just shoot me an email!