2026 Lecture Series Keynote: Anand Varma

About the Keynote

Inside WonderLab: Exploring Nature’s Hidden Worlds

Step into a world of wonder with biologist-turned-photographer Anand Varma as he unlocks the mysteries of nature through cutting-edge photography techniques. In his Berkeley-based WonderLab, Anand captures the invisible behaviors of the natural world, beyond our naked eye.

His images and videos reveal the hidden worlds that exist just outside of our perception, from the mesmerizing life cycle of a honeybee to the lightning-fast wings of a hummingbird. With Anand’s expert guidance, we can slow down the fast, speed up the slow, and magnify the miniature, enabling us to see the true beauty and complexity of the natural world.

University of Utah faculty, staff, and students with a valid UCard get special pricing on keynote tickets. Adjust your price type at checkout to apply. 

Follow the link below to register for the keynote via Kingsbury Hall. If you are registering for other free Lecture Series events, you will need to complete those registrations here on our website in a separate transaction. 

The Kingsbury Hall Box Office manages all ticketing for this lecture. For assistance with tickets, please contact the Box Office at (801) 581-7100 or via email.

About the Speaker

Anand Varma by Vijay Varma

Anand Varma grew up exploring the woods near his childhood home in Atlanta, Georgia. As a teenager, he picked up his dad’s old camera on a whim and found that he could use it to feed his curiosity about the natural world—and to share his discoveries with others. 

Anand studied integrative biology from UC Berkeley and now uses photography to share the story behind the science on everything from honeybee health to hummingbird biomechanics. He works to reveal the invisible details around us with the goal of sparking a sense of wonder about our world. 

Since receiving an Early Career Grant from National Geographic in 2010, he has photographed numerous stories for National Geographic Magazine including the 2014 cover story called “Mindsuckers.”  His recognitions include National Geographic Emerging Explorer, Media Innovation Fellow, Civic Science Fellow, and World Press Award for best nature story. Anand lives in Berkeley, California.

2026 Lecture Series Sponsors

Founding Underwriter

R. Harold Burton Foundation

Underwriter

Cultural Vision 30 Year Endowment Fund

Gold Sponsors

Karen and Ken Buchi 

Curt and Mary Crowther 

M Lazy M Foundation 

Rio Tinto Kennecott

Silver Sponsors

The DiFiore Family Foundation

Diana George

MSL Foundation

Paula Swaner Sargetakis and Joe Sargetakis | Frog Bench Farms

Community Partners

The County Library | Viridian Event Center

Kingsbury Hall

Pictureline

Institutional Support

Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts, and Parks