John buchanan Pro

I am a credentialed actuary (mathematician) by training, but enjoy photography and film making as a hobby. I have made a number of films in the last few years, with one I made as part of a volunteer middle and high school actuarial student outreach program on Climate Change, earning my first entry on IMDb. The short film, entitled Franklin’s Climate Change, incentivizing students to study old weather records to connect to today, was submitted to the Sundance Film Festival and a few other festivals in the environmental category. It featured Ralph Archbold, who was the official Ben Franklin for decades out of Philadelphia, my home town. The video was sponsored by NOAA, NASA, UK Met, ACRE (worldwide meteorological group), Google UK, and GLOBE.gov (founder Al Gore’s worldwide teacher-student organization). 

I am also an amateur dancer, particularly salsa. To promote the connection between math and dance, I have run a NYC area student essay contest entitled How does Math make me a better Dancer. One reason for the Cuba trip was to explore a potential connection between the NYC STEM from Dance program with Havana. I have danced a few times at Madison Square Garden at the halftime of a basketball game, in essence representing the Anglican race. I have also competed at Miami’s annual World Salsa Summit, earning 10 different bronze and silver medals and trophies over the years as amateur in Am-Am and Pro-Am categories. But still awaiting for the elusive gold medal. I also feel destined to write the book, Mathematician’s Guide to Salsa Dancing, which is surely to be a big hit amongst the actuarial and nerd communities. 

I have also led some worldwide projects in my profession. Most recently I founded and led 18 authors around the world as part of a joint US-UK actuarial working party, producing a research and reference document on property insurance, Analyzing the Disconnect Between the Reinsurance Submission and Global Underwriter's Needs. The paper won the UK Brian Hey award, which is the equivalent of the Oscars awards in the actuarial profession. The paper has also won the annual awards in US and Germany at various actuarial conferences. I was also awarded a lifetime achievement award (CAS Rodermund) for volunteerism.

When on vacation with Gail August, I enjoy photographing her in her colorful belly dance and other outfits in various situations, and then making a video about it. I have a Trek series: such as African Trek, Galapagos Trek, Penguin Trek, Barcelona Trek, and Moroccan Trek. The Cuba video, included within 5 film festivals and shows as an amatuer video, has taken a special place due to the unique political and economic landscape, and potential for promoting a people to people connection with the offering of Marti’s white rose of friendship.