National Geographic Magazine wildlife photographer and Nebraska-native Joel Sartore will turn his lens on his audience at a Nebraska Wesleyan University lecture where he will sound a warning bell for protecting North America’s most endangered species.

Joel Sartore will deliver his lecture, “Witnessing Change: A Call For Action,” on Friday, March 26 at 2 p.m. in Olin B Lecture Hall. His lecture is part of Nebraska Wesleyan University and First United Methodist Church’s annual Mattingly Lecture and Peacemaking Workshop: “Caring For Your Local Planet.”

At 7 p.m. Sartore will present “Grounded: A Reflection on the Use of Life and Land,” which will include his personal story of how his wife’s illness reconnected him with his family and with the reason he takes photos: to show people that wild places and earth’s creatures need and deserve protection. His evening lecture will be held in the sanctuary in First United Methodist Church, 50th Street and St. Paul Ave.

In his time with National Geographic, Sartore has focused on endangered species and land use issues. He is co-founder of the Grassland Foundation and a founding member of the International League of Conservation Photographers. Besides his work for National Geographic, Sartore has also completed assignments for Time, Life, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated and contributed to numerous book projects. He is also a regular contributor on the CBS Sunday Morning Show with Charles Osgood.

Sartore has worked everywhere from the high Arctic to the Antarctic, including every state in the U.S. and 25 countries.

His lectures are free and open to the public.

In addition to the lectures, the Peacemaking Workshop will include a photography display by area amateur photographers. The display will be available on March 26 at First United Methodist Church.

On Saturday, March 27, the Peacemaking Workshop continues with a panel discussion featuring Barbara Hipple, Mission and Outreach Coordinator for Homestead Presbytery; Carol Windrum, Director of Risk-taking Mission & Justice of the Nebraska United Methodist Conference; Chris Blake, Associate Professor of English and Sponsor of the Union College Chapter of Amnesty International; and Mitch Paine, Sustainability Policy Intern for Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler's "Cleaner Greener Lincoln Program." The Peacemaking Workshop will be held at East Lincoln Christian Church, 7001 Edenton Road in Lincoln and will begin with refreshments and fellowship at 8:30 a.m.  The panel discussion will begin at 9 a.m., followed by small group discussions and a wrap-up session which will end at 11:30 a.m.  It is free and open to the public.