Krystle Hickman is a National Geographic Explorer and Expedition Expert, TEDx speaker, award-winning conservation photographer and author, keynote speaker, and artist whose work explores biodiversity, pollinators, and environmental storytelling through fieldwork around the world.
Hickman’s commitment to conservation takes her across the globe, documenting rare native bees without any form of lethal collecting. Her dedication to preserving these important pollinators is also reflected in her powerful storytelling narratives coupled with her beautiful photos.
Her influence extends beyond the lens, as she has graced multiple television and online broadcasts like AP, Vox, and PBS, been interviewed on podcasts like Ologies, presented as a University of California delegate at multiple United Nations Biodiversity Conferences around the world, and lectured at colleges such as Harvard,
UCLA, Autonomous University of Baja California, and many more. In 2026, she served as a National Geographic Expedition Expert, leading educational programming and sharing insights on biodiversity, pollinators, and conservation throughout Grand Canyon, Zion, and Bryce Canyon National Parks.
She has released a book The ABCs of California’s Native Bees and a deck of flashcards featuring 42 of the most commonly seen native bee species in the western United States. Both have been widely successful. The flashcards sold out their first three print runs and are now available through numerous retailers. Her book received multiple awards including an IPPY Gold Medal and a Foreword INDIES Award, and was recognized by the Los Angeles Times as one of the Best Science Books of 2025. The ABCs of California’s Native Bees is available wherever books are sold.
