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Case study

BBC X University of Chicago

In 2025, BBC StoryWorks and the International Union for Conservation of Nature launched Living Legacy—a global media series exploring how humanity can harness nature’s power to shape a healthier more sustainable future through stories that unite climate, community and ecological well-being.

Connecting climate, science and the human story

BijaB played a catalytic role as both strategic advisor and philanthropic supporter, contributing to the development of the project by connecting the BBC with the University of Chicago. This collaboration brings one of the series' most important stories into focus and highlights the academic institution in a featured documentary.

The Opportunity

The BBC’s Living Legacy series is a branded global campaign rooted in a simple but vital two-part question:

How does this help nature—and how does it help people?

As the BBC sought institutions driving innovation in climate science and systems thinking, BijaB identified the University of Chicago’s Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth as a strong partner—an organization dedicated to restoring nature, supporting economies and improving lives.

Through her role on the University’s Physical Sciences Division Advisory Council, she recognized that the University’s scientific rigor, combined with a broader narrative about how research serves communities, aligned with the BBC series’ mission to connect ecology and human well-being.

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The Work

BijaB’s involvement spanned multiple roles as consulting strategist and public supporter:

  • Connected the BBC and the University of Chicago, unlocking a collaboration between two globally renowned institutions
  • Contributed to story development, shaping a narrative that centered both the science and the human lives it touches
  • Provided key philanthropic support to bring the film into production

Reach and Resonance

BijaB continues to support the documentary through ongoing collaboration with BBC StoryWorks and University of Chicago leadership, ensuring the film reflects the depth, integrity and global relevance of the research and impact it represents.

Unveiled at the 2025 World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, the film is featured on BBC.com’s dedicated branded microsite—supported by a digital campaign reaching 165 million monthly visitors and amplified through activations at major global convenings, including the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Brazil.

This project embodies BijaB’s ability to bridge science, storytelling and systems—revealing the vital connections that bring complex ideas to life and inspire collective action.