An in demand speaker, Ferris is known for his eloquence, intellect, and stage presence. Audiences praise his spellbinding storytelling, evocative metaphors, and humor, as well as his handmade custom illustrations. He has spoken at prestigious universities and museums, including Yale, MIT, NYU, and the California Academy of Sciences, as well as numerous bookstores, libraries, festivals, and conferences. A video of his TED talk is forthcoming.

He is available for both in-person and virtual events. To book Ferris, please email ferrisjabrevents [at] gmail.com

Upcoming and past events are listed below:

Credit: Bearwalk Cinema

2025

UPCOMING

Monday, February 10

Multnomah County Master Gardener Association (virtual)

*details forthcoming

March 15 - 16

Tucscon Festival of Books (Tucson, AZ)

*details forthcoming

Wednesday, April 23

Science on Tap: Alberta Rose Theater (Portland, OR)

*details forthcoming

2024

Wednesday, May 15

7:00 PM: In conversation with Zoë Schlanger, Powell’s City of Books (Portland, OR)

Wednesday, May 22

Mind Matters Talk: Gaia Series, Mind & Life Europe (virtual)

“Becoming Earth: A Personal Journey Through the Gaiasphere”

Tuesday, June 25

7:00 PM: Book Launch for Becoming Earth at Powell’s City of Books (Portland, OR)

In conversation with environmental writer Emma Marris

Wednesday, June 26

7:30PM: Town Hall Seattle with Elliott Bay Book Company (Seattle, WA) TICKETED

In conversation with forest ecologist and author Suzanne Simard

Thursday, June 27

6:00 PM: Commonwealth Club (San Francisco, CA) TICKETED

In conversation with artist and author Jenny Odell

Sunday, June 30

1:00 PM: Book Passage (Corte Madera, CA)

In conversation with naturalist and artist Obi Kaufmann

Tuesday, July 9

5:00 PM: Secret Science Club (virtual)

Friday, July 12

6:30 PM: Dallas Public Library (Dallas, OR)

Tuesday, July 16

7:00 PM: Porter Square Books (Cambridge, MA)

In conversation with author and Pulitzer Prize-winner Deborah Blum

Wednesday, July 17

7:30 PM: Greenlight Bookstore (Brooklyn, NY) 

In conversation with author and New York Times columnist Carl Zimmer

Friday, July 19

7:00 PM: Politics and Prose at the Wharf (Washington D.C.)

In conversation with Atlantic staff writer Ross Andersen

Sunday, August 4

10:00 AM: Lit Sunday at Pickathon (Pendarvis Farm, Happy Valley, OR)

In conversation with OPB’s Dave Miller

Wednesday, September 25

1:00 PM: TEDxNewEngland (Groton, MA)

Thursday, September 26

4:30 PM: MIT Knight Science Journalism Book Talk (Cambridge, MA)

Wednesday, October 9

6:00 PM: SMUD MOSAC: Museum of Science and Curiosity (Sacramento, CA)

Thursday, October 10

8:00 PM: California Academy of Sciences (San Francisco, CA)

NightLife: How Earth Came Alive!

In conversation with Executive Director and paleontologist Scott Sampson

Wednesday, October 16

6:00 PM: Ledding Library (Milwaukie, OR)

Thursday, October 17

4:00 PM Eastern: ScienceWriters2024 Virtual Session

The Bookmaking Journey in Three Acts

With Brandon Keim and Zoë Schlanger

Saturday, November 2

12:45 PM: Portland Book Festival (Portland, OR)

In conversation with Amy Stewart

Wednesday, November 13

12:10 PM: Law, Environment & Animals Program at Yale Law School (New Haven, CT)

Thursday, November 14

6:30 PM: New York University (New York, NY)

In conversation with Hilary Redmon, Editorial Director of Nonfiction at Random House

Saturday, December 7

Bird Alliance of Oregon’s Wild Arts Festival (Hillsboro, OR)