First-Ever National Geographic Explorers Festival Inspires Washington, D.C.
To some, the holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year, but to me, it’s the one week every year when all our National Geographic Explorers come “home.” Last week, during the National Geographic Explorers Festival, Explorers from around the world rose from the depths of the ocean; departed the remote regions of Africa, Asia and beyond; stepped out from behind the camera; and took a break from their labs and classrooms to gather in Washington, D.C., to share their latest discoveries and inspire us all to provide solutions to the planet’s greatest challenges. I’d like to shine a spotlight on a few of these trailblazers.
Adjany Costa
In 2015, National Geographic Explorer Dr. Steve Boyes began an ambitious project to protect the highland waters that feed the rich Okavango Delta in Botswana. When the Okavango Wilderness Project team needed scientific partners in Angola, they enlisted Adjany Costa, a local scientist who studies the region’s fish populations. The project has allowed Adjany to experience her country’s beauty firsthand, inspiring her efforts to protect its magnificent natural treasures. Adjany can, however, attest that this landscape can be unforgiving. Pulling a mekoro (dug-out canoe) filled with heavy equipment (around 770 lbs.) through mud and grass after being stung by a scorpion is just another day at the office. But for Adjany, it’s all worth it in order to protect the watershed integral to the birds, elephants, hippos and more — as well as all who depend on the Okavango River Basin. Adjany has been named a 2017 National Geographic Emerging Explorer.
Joel Sartore
Explorer Joel Sartore uses photography to raise awareness about species at risk. Joel leads the National Geographic Photo Ark, a multiyear effort that aims to photograph every species living in the world’s zoos and wildlife sanctuaries, inspire action through education, and help save wildlife by supporting on-the-ground conservation projects. Joel uses the camera lens to create portraits of hope. His intimate portrayals of more than 6,000 species to date allow people to look into the eyes of these beautiful animals, invoking compassion and a desire to help. People of all ages are able to engage with Photo Ark online and in the classroom. They are encouraged to explore the animals in Joel’s collection, share information and raise awareness of endangered species through social media with #SaveTogether. Photo Ark also provides free educational materials and activities for students in the classroom, fostering conservation-minded youth and future National Geographic Explorers.
Joe Grabowski
National Geographic 2017 Emerging Explorer Joe Grabowski is also bringing science, exploration, adventure and conservation into schools across North America with Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants (EBTSOYP). Since its launch in 2015, Joe’s nonprofit has broken down classroom walls, taking students anywhere in the world without leaving their desks. The students engage with other National Geographic Explorers through Google Hangouts where they can ask questions and envision career opportunities. Joe hosts full-day events celebrating biodiversity, our oceans and women in STEM, encouraging kids to become global citizens. He shows them a world outside the pages of their textbooks, highlighting how amazing our planet is and what we are doing to it. Joe sees in these students a curiosity, passion and willingness to get behind important causes. He and I share the same hope for the future, looking to these students to generate solutions to our most pressing problems.
These are the kinds of bold people with transformative ideas we’ve funded since our founding in 1888. For more than a century, we have provided some 12,500 grants ($90 million of which has supported geography education across the country), funding nearly 500 research, conservation and exploration projects last year alone.
Let these Explorers take you to a world beyond your doorsteps by visiting NatGeoFest.org to hear from Adjany, Joel, Joe and many more. I’ll leave you with some words that resonated with me from one of last week’s panels when Joe Grabowski quoted another National Geographic Explorer, Mike Libecki: “Don’t ration passion.” There certainly is no shortage of passion exuding from our National Geographic Explorers. Each and every one of them embodies the theme of our first-ever Explorers Festival: “Anything is Possible.”
