National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence

National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence is a prestigious program that supports and recognizes explorers, scientists, and conservationists who are making significant contributions to their fields, often in collaboration with National Geographic Society, World Wildlife Fund, and The Nature Conservancy. The program is designed to promote exploration, conservation, and education, and to inspire new generations of explorers and scientists, such as Jane Goodall, Jacques Cousteau, and Sylvia Earle. The National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence program has a long history of supporting groundbreaking research and expeditions, including those led by Robert Ballard, James Cameron, and Enric Sala. The program is closely tied to the National Geographic Society's mission to explore, understand, and protect the natural world, in partnership with organizations like the Smithsonian Institution and the Royal Geographical Society.

● Introduction

The National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence program is a unique opportunity for explorers and scientists to pursue their passions and make a meaningful impact on the world, often in collaboration with universities like Harvard University, Stanford University, and University of Oxford. The program provides funding, resources, and support for expeditions and research projects, and offers a platform for explorers to share their work and inspire others, through media outlets like BBC, CNN, and PBS. The program is closely tied to the National Geographic Society's mission to explore, understand, and protect the natural world, and has supported the work of explorers like Louis Leakey, Mary Leakey, and Richard Leakey, as well as conservationists like Wangari Maathai and Chandi Prasad Bhatt. The program has also partnered with organizations like the World Bank, United Nations Environment Programme, and International Union for Conservation of Nature to support sustainable development and environmental conservation.

● History of

the Program The National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence program was established in the 1960s, with the goal of supporting and recognizing explorers and scientists who were making significant contributions to their fields, including oceanography, anthropology, and ecology. The program was inspired by the work of early explorers like Ferdinand Magellan, James Cook, and Roald Amundsen, and has since supported the work of hundreds of explorers and scientists, including Thor Heyerdahl, Jacques Piccard, and Don Walsh. The program has undergone several changes over the years, but its core mission has remained the same: to support and recognize explorers and scientists who are making a positive impact on the world, in partnership with organizations like the National Science Foundation, European Space Agency, and Australian Academy of Science. The program has also been influenced by the work of institutions like the Royal Society, Académie des Sciences, and National Academy of Sciences.

● Notable Explorers-in-Residence

The National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence program has supported the work of many notable explorers and scientists, including Robert Ballard, who discovered the wreck of the Titanic, and James Cameron, who reached the bottom of the Mariana Trench. Other notable explorers include Enric Sala, who has worked to protect the world's oceans, and Wangari Maathai, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work on environmental conservation and sustainable development. The program has also supported the work of explorers like Bertrand Piccard, who flew around the world in a solar-powered airplane, and Borge Ousland, who was the first person to reach the North Pole alone, in collaboration with organizations like the World Wildlife Fund and The Nature Conservancy. The program has also recognized the work of scientists like Stephen Hawking, Jane Lubchenco, and E.O. Wilson, who have made significant contributions to their fields, including physics, marine biology, and ecology.

● Selection Process and Criteria

The selection process for the National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence program is highly competitive, with a rigorous review process that evaluates applicants based on their research proposals, expedition plans, and conservation goals. The program looks for explorers and scientists who are making significant contributions to their fields, and who have a strong track record of achievement and impact, often in collaboration with institutions like the University of California, Berkeley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Columbia University. The program also considers the potential for applicants to inspire and educate others, and to make a positive impact on the world, in partnership with organizations like the United Nations, European Union, and African Union. The selection committee includes experts from a range of fields, including science, conservation, and exploration, and is chaired by the National Geographic Society's President and CEO.

● Current and Past Explorers

The National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence program currently supports a diverse group of explorers and scientists, including oceanographer Sylvia Earle, anthropologist Jared Diamond, and ecologist Thomas Lovejoy. Past explorers include mountaineer Edmund Hillary, astronaut Neil Armstrong, and paleontologist Louis Leakey, who have all made significant contributions to their fields, often in collaboration with organizations like the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, European Space Agency, and Russian Academy of Sciences. The program has also supported the work of conservationists like Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas, who have worked to protect endangered species and ecosystems, in partnership with institutions like the World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, and International Union for Conservation of Nature.

● Expeditions and Projects

The National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence program has supported a wide range of expeditions and projects, from oceanographic research to conservation efforts in Africa, Asia, and South America. The program has also supported explorers who are working to protect the world's oceans, including marine biologist Enric Sala and oceanographer Sylvia Earle, in collaboration with organizations like the Ocean Conservancy, Marine Conservation Institute, and World Ocean Council. The program has also funded expeditions to the Amazon rainforest, the Himalayas, and the Arctic, and has supported research on climate change, biodiversity, and ecosystem conservation, in partnership with institutions like the National Science Foundation, European Union, and United Nations Environment Programme. The program has also recognized the work of explorers like Mike Horn, who has worked to protect the world's oceans and coastal ecosystems, and Sarah Begley, who has worked to conserve endangered species and ecosystems, in collaboration with organizations like the World Wildlife Fund and The Nature Conservancy.