United Nations Project Brings World Famous Photographer to UTMB -- Where We Take His Picture

In 1919, as part of the Treaty of Versailles, the International Labour Organization was created to ensure social justice and higher living standards for the world’s working people. Fifty years ago, in 1969, the ILO won the Nobel Peace Prize for its many efforts to improve working conditions around the globe. 

On August 28, 2019, representatives from the ILO visited UTMB to include employees with unique and exciting jobs in an ambitious ILO/United Nations project called Dignity at Work.

Connie Holubar, Director of Operations for the Galveston National Lab, who coordinated with the ILO team, said that Corrie Ntiforo, an Environmental Health and Safety Consultant and Biosafety Trainer was photographed with third year PhD student Megan Mears working in the International Biosafety Training Center.  The photos focused on training involved in preparing for work in a Biosafety Level 4 Laboratory.

In addition, Dr. Joan Nichols, a professor in the School of Medicine and Graduate School of Biomedical Science, was photographed in the Galveston National Lab Clean Room with a de-cellurized lung scaffold, surrounded by the equipment she and her team use to bioengineer lungs.

The photographer, John Isaac, is an internationally acclaimed award-winning photographer who worked for the United Nations for more than 30 years.  He literally came out of retirement just for this project, which has him traveling to 26 states in three months to photograph dozens of workers who are making a difference in interesting professions.

Just prior to visiting Galveston, Isaac had photographed a bat refuge volunteer in Austin and a “farm to fashion” entrepreneur in rural Texas, who raises her own sheep for the wool to make cotton to make clothing that she sells. 

Directing the project from the ILO was Kevin Cassidy, Director of Multilateral Organizations, who enthusiastically shared their many interesting experiences and things to come.  After UTMB they were headed over to Texas A&M/Galveston to photograph a marine biologist in the university's Oyster Lab.  Then they were off to the airport and Colorado to photograph a flight simulation trainer at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Travel is nothing new to Isaac, as he has visited more than 160 countries around the world and has taken photos in the midst of war and famine, in the middle of the rainforest and jungles, at the world’s largest pop concerts, and most recently in India where taking pictures of the endangered Bengal Tigers has become his life’s passion.

Even with all the excitement of taking photos all over the world, Isaac was absolutely thrilled when he was asked if he’d like to try on a BSL4 spacesuit. 

The Dignity at Work exhibit will be held in Washington, DC in early 2020 before becoming a traveling UN exhibit, a website and a coffee table book.