Wonder

Wonder

Wonder

Awaits

Awaits

Awaits

Exploration is as exciting and essential as ever. We’ve only scratched the surface of what’s out there, and exploring it all together is the key to unlocking the mysteries of our past, meeting the challenges of our moment, and boldly reimagining the future.

Will you join us?

Exploration is as exciting and essential as ever. We’ve only scratched the surface of what’s out there, and exploring it all together is the key to unlocking the mysteries of our past, meeting the challenges of our moment, and boldly reimagining the future.

Will you join us?

Follow our work
As a global nonprofit, the National Geographic Society is committed to supporting Explorers whose work inspires all of us to take action for our planet and its people.

Today, our mission is more urgent, dynamic and vital than ever.

A Thriving Ocean Awaits

National Geographic is celebrating the wonders of our ocean and the solutions that lie within it. Through our programs, National Geographic Explorers are committed to studying, observing, and developing solutions to protect and conserve our ocean and its inhabitants.

Join us as we illuminate stories from our ocean and the incredible Explorers working to preserve its pristine ecosystems.

How is a creature
the size of a

paper clip

essential to an
entire marine
ecosystem
?

Kim (“Kriller Kim”) Bernard
Biological Oceanographer & Marine Biologist
A biological oceanographer, Kim Bernard’s expertise is in shrimp-like crustaceans known as euphausiids (or krill) - one of the largest wild animal biomasses on Earth and a fundamental part of the marine food web. Most recently, she studied previously unknown deep sea krill habitats in the Southern Ocean aboard R/V Falkor (too) in collaboration with Schmidt Ocean Institute as part of the National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Ocean Expeditions.
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Anya Brown is a marine ecologist who examines how microbes influence the nature of their host’s interactions within and between other species to influence marine organisms' population and community ecology. As a lead scientist on the National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Ocean Expedition in the Cook Islands, Anya is collaborating with the local community on ways to help corals survive warming waters and build a healthy future for reefs.
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What can

microbes

tell us about
our ocean
?

Anya Brown

Microbial Ecologist & Marine Biologist

How do we

inspire

the next generation
of deep sea
explorers
?

Sylvia Earle

Conservation Biologist & Oceanographer
Sylvia Earle, a National Geographic Explorer since 1998, has led more than 100 expeditions, authored over 200 publications, lectured in 90 countries and logged thousands of hours of diving, living in undersea laboratories and using more than 30 kinds of research submarines.
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Whitney Goodell is a marine ecologist committed to pushing the needle of ocean conservation and ecosystem health. Her work has ranged from local-scale marine management efforts to global-scale ecological studies, from vibrant coastal ecosystems to the dark unknown of the deep sea. She works with Pristine Seas, leading the team's deep sea research in an effort to explore and better understand these mysterious ecosystems, and help protect the ocean’s remaining ecosystems.
Learn More

What if

technology

can show us
what lives in
the deep sea
?

Whitney Goodell

Marine Ecologist

How can we

protect

the ocean’s
vital places
?

Enric Sala

Explorer in Residence & Marine Ecologist
Enric Sala is a former professor who saw himself writing the obituary of ocean life, and quit academia to become a full-time conservationist as a National Geographic Explorer in Residence. He founded and leads Pristine Seas, a project that combines exploration, research and film to inspire country leaders to protect the last wild places in the ocean. To date, Pristine Seas has helped to create 29 of the largest marine reserves on the planet. Enric recently served as executive producer and scientific advisor to the documentary film, Ocean with David Attenborough.
Learn More

Transforming curiosity into solutions for the planet

Follow our work

We Fund Curious Problem Solvers

The National Geographic Society supports a global community of infinitely curious leaders and problem solvers who are passionate about our planet and making it a better place. Maximizing impact in six key areas—ocean, land, wildlife, human histories & cultures, planetary health and space.

A National Geographic photographer holds the National Geographic Society flag at a mountain camp in Chile.
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active Explorer-led projects in more than 140 countries
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grants awarded for work across all seven continents
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of donations go directly to funding Explorer programs

YOUR PASSPORT TO WONDER AWAITS

There’s an explorer in all of us, waiting to be inspired.

MOE_Courtyard_Daytime_1

The Museum is Coming!

Unlock unlimited access to the Museum of Exploration (MOE) opening this summer in the heart of Washington, D.C.

Become a Member
At the Museum of Exploration, you’ll engage with the latest breathtaking discoveries, findings, and stories from National Geographic Explorers, including the groundbreaking work of these changemakers.
Sandesh Kadur

Sandesh Kadur creates documentary films and photography books to raise awareness about the world’s threatened species and habitats — in order to inspire his audience to help protect them.

Landing Page - Image Flip Card_Tara Roberts_1206x1234_Indicator Icon [compressed]

Tara Roberts is reframing the origin story of Africans in the Americas and to tell stories that humanize and bring empathy, nuance and complexity to their human journey.

Anand Varma

Anand Varma reveals the wonders of nature to illuminate the layers of beauty and complexity that are otherwise hidden from the naked eye.

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Wonder Renews

Since 1888, the National Geographic Society has championed generations of Explorers. Looking to the future, we’re extending our legacy of research and stewardship, to ensure our future on this planet grows more vibrant and resilient with every exploration we support.
We’re funding innovative Explorers to challenge what’s possible and inspire all of us to illuminate and protect the wonders of our world, for generations to come.

Because there's always another wonder for us to go and find

Dive Deeper

Explore with us

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Photo credits (from top of page): Niki Chan Wylie, Michael Gue, Luján Agusti, Konini Rongo, James Sugar, Madison McClintock, Manu San Félix, Armando Vega, Impact Story Lab, Andy Szabo, Michael Lees, Sofia Lopez Mañan, Rebecca Hale, Maddie McGarvey, Jodi Hilton, Sarah S. Mahoney, Brian Skerry, Michael Nichols, Brent Stirton, Cory Richards, NASA, Jaime Rojo