Join BCAS for social time with light refreshments before this program! Doors open at 6:30.
This program is free, no registration required - just show up and enjoy!
NOTE: This program will be offered in-person only.
Photo of American pika from the film Speaking Eep! Directed by Jim and JinYoung Jayson, Just Float Films, 2026
SPEAKING EEP! follows a team of women scientists working to conserve one of North America’s most climate-sensitive species: the American pika. Using a combination of cutting-edge AI technology and traditional research techniques, population biologist Dr. Chris Ray and PhD student Rachel Billings hope to decode the iconic “eeps” of pika language and determine how communication between subspecies might help separate populations of pikas come together to adapt in the face of a warming climate. SPEAKING EEP! highlights women-led science and calls attention to the importance of the American pika as an indicator species. Ultimately, the message of the film is one of hope that focuses on the potential for these beloved critters to adapt to an increasingly fragile environment.
Photo of Rachel Billings, by Chris Ray.
Featuring great characters, fascinating science, and cinematic footage of stunning mountain vistas and adorable pikas, (and lots of "eeps"!), this film transports viewers high up into Colorado's Rocky Mountains for an experience that is sure to delight and inspire.
Photo of Chris Ray, courtesy of Chris Ray.
In a time where the importance of research and science is being minimized, conservation and environmental initiatives are under attack, and the stories of strong women go unheard, we wanted to make a film to emphasize the importance of the work being done by two amazing female scientists as just one example of the kind of fact-based, women-led science that is actively being undermined and going unsupported in the US today. The filmmakers want audiences to be reminded that when science loses funding, it is being taken from devoted, hardworking humans who are passionate about their subject, the pursuit of knowledge, and the wellbeing of all life on earth. When science goes unfunded, the humans behind that science can't do their work, which in turn impacts all of humanity.
The filmmakers, Jim and JinYoung are passionate about pikas! They have volunteered with local pika conservation initiatives for over a decade. JinYoung considers pikas the gateway mammal that drew her into wildlife and conservation and sparked her passion for telling the stories of the tiny but mighty creatures that live right outside her home. When she made the career shift from health care to wildlife and conservation storytelling, she experienced first hand the gate-keeping that women in science must overcome to make their voices heard, and has since made it a personal goal to spotlight the work of women in science and conservation as often as possible. Jim has been active in wildlife conservation for over two decades, beginning with a shift into wildlife photography and a goal (still in progress) to photograph all of Colorado's native wildlife in the wild and within state boundaries. Along the way he obtained a master's degree in biology. Their combined passion, knowledge, unique perspectives, and long-standing commitment and connection to the pika conservation community make Jim and JinYoung the perfect team to tell this story.
Jim Jayson (He/Him) is wildlife photographer and conservation filmmaker with a passion for sharing stories of wildlife and promoting the conservation of endangered species. A blend of traditional naturalist skills and modern technology have allowed him to photograph some of North America's rarest and most elusive mammals, with his work appearing in numerous books and magazines. He is a frequent speaker and photography presenter on behalf of conservation causes and guides photography and wildlife watching adventures across North America. In 2019, he and his wife, JinYoung, started Just Float Films with the goal of creating immersive wildlife experiences to engage viewers with our planet in new and exciting ways. Through their work, the Just Float Films team hopes to inspire passion for the protection of Earth and the wildlife that call it home.
JinYoung Kim Jayson (she/her) is a Korean American conservation and wildlife documentary filmmaker. After 16 years working in emergency medicine, JinYoung shifted to wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, volunteering at a local wildlife rescue and contributing fieldwork as a community scientist studying pikas, black-footed ferrets, desert tortoises, jaguars, and ocelots. In 2019 she and her husband, Jim, founded Just Float Films with the goal of creating fully immersive virtual wildlife experiences that engage viewers with our planet in new and exciting ways. When not filming or digging up new stories about wildlife, JinYoung focuses her attention on advocacy efforts supporting the amplification of adult transracial and intercountry adoptee voices. She is a licensed done pilot and SSI certified Advanced Level freediver. During her free time, JinYoung can be found freediving, exploring the Colorado Front Range with her husband, and reconnecting with her native Korean heritage and culture
In-Person Gathering - BCAS welcomes everyone back to in-person programs at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder. Doors open at 6:30 PM for socializing with light refreshments, and the program begins at 7:15. While the church is no longer requiring masks, we encourage you to wear your favorite high-quality mask, and we will provide free surgical masks for anyone who needs one. Please stay home if you feel sick.
An FM hearing assistive system is available in the Earth room where BCAS programs are held. The receivers and headsets for these can typically be found in a basket on the table to the right as you enter the double doors to the Earth room. There are four receivers of this type. They are fed sound directly from the sound system and the user can control the volume themselves. See this website for more information on how to use these systems.
Photo of American pika from the film Speaking Eep! Directed by Jim and JinYoung Jayson, Just Float Films, 2026