Lisa Ling, television correspondent and host of National Geographic’s Explorer, will present “Opening Minds and Hearts to the Issues Surrounding Us” at Northern Michigan University. Her talk is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, in Vandament Arena.

Ling has worked in television for nearly two decades. She began reporting at the age of 16, hosting a nationally syndicated teen magazine show, Scratch. She later became one of the youngest reporters for Channel One News, serving as a war correspondent and visiting violent areas throughout the world.

Since joining National Geographic in December 2002, Ling has covered the looting of antiques in war-torn Iraq, investigated the increasingly deadly drug war in Colombia, examined the complex issues surrounding China’s one-child policy, and journeyed more than 1,600 feet to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean in a high-tech submersible in search of gold treasure. 

Ling’s current projects include covering stories such as gang rape in the Congo for The Oprah Winfrey Show and reporting on battles over oil, land, food and water for CNN’s series Planet in Peril. Ling alsoserves as contributing editor for USA Weekend and recently co-authored a book titled, Mother, Daughter, Sister, Bride: Rituals of Womanhood. Shehosts the Oxygen Network series, Who Cares About Girls, which explores the challenges girls face worldwide.

            Tickets are available at NMU EZ Ticket Outlets. Prices are $1 for NMU students, $3 for 18 and under and $5 for the general public. This event is sponsored by Platform Personalities and the Student Activity Fee.