from a distance it always seems impossible but impossible is just a
impossible but impossible is just a
impossible but impossible is just a place we haven’t been to yet impossible
place we haven’t been to yet impossible
place we haven’t been to yet impossible is what beckons us to go further to
is what beckons us to go further to
is what beckons us to go further to explore it calls us from the wild lures
explore it calls us from the wild lures
explore it calls us from the wild lures us into the unknown asks us to dig
us into the unknown asks us to dig
us into the unknown asks us to dig deeper to look at things from new
deeper to look at things from new
deeper to look at things from new perspectives and sometimes it forces us
perspectives and sometimes it forces us
perspectives and sometimes it forces us to change the way we see the impossible
to change the way we see the impossible
to change the way we see the impossible appears in the darkest hours taunts us
appears in the darkest hours taunts us
appears in the darkest hours taunts us with answers in the most unlikely places
with answers in the most unlikely places
with answers in the most unlikely places hide solutions where there once were
hide solutions where there once were
hide solutions where there once were none it can drive us to the brink but
none it can drive us to the brink but
none it can drive us to the brink but it’s what beats in the heart of every
it’s what beats in the heart of every
it’s what beats in the heart of every explorer
explorer
explorer [Music]
[Music]
[Music] because the further you go into the
because the further you go into the
because the further you go into the impossible the closer we are to making
impossible the closer we are to making
impossible the closer we are to making it possible ladies and gentlemen
it possible ladies and gentlemen
it possible ladies and gentlemen National Geographic is proud to present
National Geographic is proud to present
National Geographic is proud to present the 2017 National Geographic explorers
the 2017 National Geographic explorers
the 2017 National Geographic explorers festival please welcome to the stage
festival please welcome to the stage
festival please welcome to the stage president and CEO of the National
president and CEO of the National
president and CEO of the National Geographic Society Gary knell good
Geographic Society Gary knell good
Geographic Society Gary knell good morning everyone and welcome everyone in
morning everyone and welcome everyone in
morning everyone and welcome everyone in the lounge where I know you’re enjoying
the lounge where I know you’re enjoying
the lounge where I know you’re enjoying breakfast burritos that was a personal
breakfast burritos that was a personal
breakfast burritos that was a personal request of mine this year and and all
request of mine this year and and all
request of mine this year and and all those live-streaming around the world
those live-streaming around the world
those live-streaming around the world today we welcome you to the first big
today we welcome you to the first big
today we welcome you to the first big livestream of this incredible festival
livestream of this incredible festival
livestream of this incredible festival which as you know who have been here
which as you know who have been here
which as you know who have been here before once a year we bring a amazing
before once a year we bring a amazing
before once a year we bring a amazing our amazing family our National
our amazing family our National
our amazing family our National Geographic family together our
Geographic family together our
Geographic family together our extraordinary explorers who have
extraordinary explorers who have
extraordinary explorers who have traveled thousands of miles to be here
traveled thousands of miles to be here
traveled thousands of miles to be here our amazing contributors who support our
our amazing contributors who support our
our amazing contributors who support our unparalleled research and exploration
unparalleled research and exploration
unparalleled research and exploration storytelling and of course the dedicated
storytelling and of course the dedicated
storytelling and of course the dedicated National Geographic staff who worked
National Geographic staff who worked
National Geographic staff who worked higher tirelessly every day to make
higher tirelessly every day to make
higher tirelessly every day to make National Geographic Society a reality
National Geographic Society a reality
National Geographic Society a reality and the members of our board of trustees
and the members of our board of trustees
and the members of our board of trustees including our visionary chairperson jean
including our visionary chairperson jean
including our visionary chairperson jean case who’s here today Jean would you
case who’s here today Jean would you
case who’s here today Jean would you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] and Peter Raven who is the head of our
and Peter Raven who is the head of our
and Peter Raven who is the head of our Committee on research and exploration
Committee on research and exploration
Committee on research and exploration [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] we’re all so privileged to have Lexi
we’re all so privileged to have Lexi
we’re all so privileged to have Lexi Grosvenor eller here and who has some
Grosvenor eller here and who has some
Grosvenor eller here and who has some connection to the name of this
connection to the name of this
connection to the name of this auditorium mark Moore and Tracy Wolfson
auditorium mark Moore and Tracy Wolfson
auditorium mark Moore and Tracy Wolfson Croft welcome and a special shout out to
Croft welcome and a special shout out to
Croft welcome and a special shout out to my colleague who’s done so much to lead
my colleague who’s done so much to lead
my colleague who’s done so much to lead our media side of the organization to
our media side of the organization to
our media side of the organization to expand it and integrate it around the
expand it and integrate it around the
expand it and integrate it around the world to reach more people than ever
world to reach more people than ever
world to reach more people than ever Declan Moore Declan and and his boss the
Declan Moore Declan and and his boss the
Declan Moore Declan and and his boss the chairperson of the chairman of National
chairperson of the chairman of National
chairperson of the chairman of National Geographic partners and the chairman of
Geographic partners and the chairman of
Geographic partners and the chairman of Fox networks group were really pretty
Fox networks group were really pretty
Fox networks group were really pretty privileged to have an amazing visionary
privileged to have an amazing visionary
privileged to have an amazing visionary in in his own light and someone who has
in in his own light and someone who has
in in his own light and someone who has in his own right and someone who has
in his own right and someone who has
in his own right and someone who has really contributed and dedicated himself
really contributed and dedicated himself
really contributed and dedicated himself to the mission of National Geographic
to the mission of National Geographic
to the mission of National Geographic Peter rice Peter
Peter rice Peter
Peter rice Peter [Applause]
so we’re dedicating this week to the
so we’re dedicating this week to the fact that we live in interesting times
fact that we live in interesting times
fact that we live in interesting times and we think that never before has a
and we think that never before has a
and we think that never before has a National Geographic been more relevant
National Geographic been more relevant
National Geographic been more relevant we need to protect and preserve species
we need to protect and preserve species
we need to protect and preserve species we need to build a better healthier
we need to build a better healthier
we need to build a better healthier planet as we see nine billion people as
planet as we see nine billion people as
planet as we see nine billion people as Peter Raven likes to remind us here by
Peter Raven likes to remind us here by
Peter Raven likes to remind us here by the year 2050 and perhaps 11 billion by
the year 2050 and perhaps 11 billion by
the year 2050 and perhaps 11 billion by the end of the century there are
the end of the century there are
the end of the century there are actually twice as many people on the
actually twice as many people on the
actually twice as many people on the planet since the day I graduated high
planet since the day I graduated high
planet since the day I graduated high school which wasn’t that long ago but
school which wasn’t that long ago but
school which wasn’t that long ago but that’s a remarkable thing to think about
that’s a remarkable thing to think about
that’s a remarkable thing to think about twice as many people on the planet and
twice as many people on the planet and
twice as many people on the planet and just last year alone China and the in
just last year alone China and the in
just last year alone China and the in three years China yes my favorite
three years China yes my favorite
three years China yes my favorite statistic used more cement in building
statistic used more cement in building
statistic used more cement in building then the United States used in the
then the United States used in the
then the United States used in the entire 20th century so the the rapid
entire 20th century so the the rapid
entire 20th century so the the rapid nature of growth the rapid nature of
nature of growth the rapid nature of
nature of growth the rapid nature of population the critical state of climate
population the critical state of climate
population the critical state of climate all comes together and at the same time
all comes together and at the same time
all comes together and at the same time National Geographic has been there for
National Geographic has been there for
National Geographic has been there for 129 years to chronicle this progression
129 years to chronicle this progression
129 years to chronicle this progression and to give voice to those who are
and to give voice to those who are
and to give voice to those who are trying to do something about it a
trying to do something about it a
trying to do something about it a hundred years ago this year National
hundred years ago this year National
hundred years ago this year National Geographic magazine offered a series of
Geographic magazine offered a series of
Geographic magazine offered a series of moving portraits in an article called
moving portraits in an article called
moving portraits in an article called our foreign-born citizens it was a year
our foreign-born citizens it was a year
our foreign-born citizens it was a year before World War one ended when many
before World War one ended when many
before World War one ended when many were flocking to the United States for a
were flocking to the United States for a
were flocking to the United States for a new life including my grandparents we
new life including my grandparents we
new life including my grandparents we brought attention to immigrants striving
brought attention to immigrants striving
brought attention to immigrants striving to come to this country and start over
to come to this country and start over
to come to this country and start over we showed the world their faces their
we showed the world their faces their
we showed the world their faces their fears their hopes and joys and we made
fears their hopes and joys and we made
fears their hopes and joys and we made their struggles relevant to all those
their struggles relevant to all those
their struggles relevant to all those that we reached exactly one century
that we reached exactly one century
that we reached exactly one century later National Geographic continues to
later National Geographic continues to
later National Geographic continues to shine a spotlight on the plight of the
shine a spotlight on the plight of the
shine a spotlight on the plight of the world’s refugees and migrants raising
world’s refugees and migrants raising
world’s refugees and migrants raising awareness of the often
awareness of the often
awareness of the often heartbreaking challenges that they face
heartbreaking challenges that they face
heartbreaking challenges that they face through the work of pew litter Prize
through the work of pew litter Prize
through the work of pew litter Prize winning journalist and National
winning journalist and National
winning journalist and National Geographic fellow Paul Salopek and many
Geographic fellow Paul Salopek and many
Geographic fellow Paul Salopek and many others and exactly 65 years ago this
others and exactly 65 years ago this
others and exactly 65 years ago this year National Geographic published our
year National Geographic published our
year National Geographic published our first photos by jacques-yves cousteau
first photos by jacques-yves cousteau
first photos by jacques-yves cousteau pioneering a new age of underwater
pioneering a new age of underwater
pioneering a new age of underwater research and revolutionising
research and revolutionising
research and revolutionising oceanography and ocean conservation
oceanography and ocean conservation
oceanography and ocean conservation fifty years ago with the help from dr.
fifty years ago with the help from dr.
fifty years ago with the help from dr. Louis Leakey and grants from National
Louis Leakey and grants from National
Louis Leakey and grants from National Geographic and others Dian Fossey began
Geographic and others Dian Fossey began
Geographic and others Dian Fossey began her monumental 18-year study of mountain
her monumental 18-year study of mountain
her monumental 18-year study of mountain gorillas her work would fundamentally
gorillas her work would fundamentally
gorillas her work would fundamentally change the way that we view these
change the way that we view these
change the way that we view these magnificent creatures and their
magnificent creatures and their
magnificent creatures and their relationship to humankind these
relationship to humankind these
relationship to humankind these milestones serve as reminders of the
milestones serve as reminders of the
milestones serve as reminders of the world-changing impact of all that we do
world-changing impact of all that we do
world-changing impact of all that we do with all of you today our planet faces
with all of you today our planet faces
with all of you today our planet faces increasingly urgent challenges from
increasingly urgent challenges from
increasingly urgent challenges from overpopulation to climate change and
overpopulation to climate change and
overpopulation to climate change and beyond and the global conversation
beyond and the global conversation
beyond and the global conversation around many of these issues continues to
around many of these issues continues to
around many of these issues continues to be polarized as evidenced by the recent
be polarized as evidenced by the recent
be polarized as evidenced by the recent u.s. withdraw from the Paris agreement
u.s. withdraw from the Paris agreement
u.s. withdraw from the Paris agreement in many ways our work is more critical
in many ways our work is more critical
in many ways our work is more critical than ever before and we have the people
than ever before and we have the people
than ever before and we have the people the organization and the tenacity to
the organization and the tenacity to
the organization and the tenacity to push forward to advance the world
push forward to advance the world
push forward to advance the world science and research to tell stories
science and research to tell stories
science and research to tell stories that build awareness and spur action to
that build awareness and spur action to
that build awareness and spur action to educate and create change
educate and create change
educate and create change a year and a half ago we took a major
a year and a half ago we took a major
a year and a half ago we took a major step forward creating a new funding
step forward creating a new funding
step forward creating a new funding model here at National Geographic to
model here at National Geographic to
model here at National Geographic to allow us to expand and accelerate our
allow us to expand and accelerate our
allow us to expand and accelerate our research exploration and storytelling
research exploration and storytelling
research exploration and storytelling nearly every day we are hearing of major
nearly every day we are hearing of major
nearly every day we are hearing of major media organizations or nonprofits that
media organizations or nonprofits that
media organizations or nonprofits that are being forced to cut back or shrink
are being forced to cut back or shrink
are being forced to cut back or shrink their mission but not National
their mission but not National
their mission but not National Geographic we’re moving ahead at full
Geographic we’re moving ahead at full
Geographic we’re moving ahead at full steam we now have a sustained
steam we now have a sustained
steam we now have a sustained way to fund our future in the form of a
way to fund our future in the form of a
way to fund our future in the form of a 1.2 billion dollar endowment this is
1.2 billion dollar endowment this is
1.2 billion dollar endowment this is allowing us to lean in to be bolder and
allowing us to lean in to be bolder and
allowing us to lean in to be bolder and to be more proactive
to be more proactive
to be more proactive for example our expanded resources have
for example our expanded resources have
for example our expanded resources have made it possible to build some amazing
made it possible to build some amazing
made it possible to build some amazing public facing elements around this
public facing elements around this
public facing elements around this symposium creating our first-ever
symposium creating our first-ever
symposium creating our first-ever explores festival to showcase our
explores festival to showcase our
explores festival to showcase our explores work to the world just last
explores work to the world just last
explores work to the world just last week we took another major stride we
week we took another major stride we
week we took another major stride we announced we will direct 50 million
announced we will direct 50 million
announced we will direct 50 million dollars of our enhanced endowment into
dollars of our enhanced endowment into
dollars of our enhanced endowment into impact investments or financial vehicles
impact investments or financial vehicles
impact investments or financial vehicles designed to promote a greater good such
designed to promote a greater good such
designed to promote a greater good such as protecting the environment with this
as protecting the environment with this
as protecting the environment with this move we are building on our commitment
move we are building on our commitment
move we are building on our commitment to protect the planet and help create a
to protect the planet and help create a
to protect the planet and help create a more sustainable future we are reaching
more sustainable future we are reaching
more sustainable future we are reaching further and moving more decisively than
further and moving more decisively than
further and moving more decisively than ever to carry forth our mission and
ever to carry forth our mission and
ever to carry forth our mission and everyone today in this room has a
everyone today in this room has a
everyone today in this room has a critical role to play I want to take a
critical role to play I want to take a
critical role to play I want to take a moment now to acknowledge that to
moment now to acknowledge that to
moment now to acknowledge that to acknowledge you first I’d like to ask
acknowledge you first I’d like to ask
acknowledge you first I’d like to ask our explorers to stand up what a thrill
our explorers to stand up what a thrill
our explorers to stand up what a thrill it is to have you all here today to work
it is to have you all here today to work
it is to have you all here today to work with you the ideas and innovation that
with you the ideas and innovation that
with you the ideas and innovation that you bring
these men and women show bravery they
these men and women show bravery they make incredible sacrifices they uncover
make incredible sacrifices they uncover
make incredible sacrifices they uncover amazing discoveries they make National
amazing discoveries they make National
amazing discoveries they make National Geographic what it is and they make an
Geographic what it is and they make an
Geographic what it is and they make an extraordinary mark on the world we are
extraordinary mark on the world we are
extraordinary mark on the world we are in awe of you and these include of
in awe of you and these include of
in awe of you and these include of course our explorers in residence in the
course our explorers in residence in the
course our explorers in residence in the audience and please PLEASE wave or stand
audience and please PLEASE wave or stand
audience and please PLEASE wave or stand up to be acknowledged Sylvia Earle Bob
up to be acknowledged Sylvia Earle Bob
up to be acknowledged Sylvia Earle Bob Ballard
[Applause]
[Applause] you’re gonna see Lee Berger and reek
you’re gonna see Lee Berger and reek
you’re gonna see Lee Berger and reek solace shortly there they’re being you
solace shortly there they’re being you
solace shortly there they’re being you know kept kept in there for now and a
know kept kept in there for now and a
know kept kept in there for now and a special shout out because I know they’re
special shout out because I know they’re
special shout out because I know they’re tuning in to our incredible explorers in
tuning in to our incredible explorers in
tuning in to our incredible explorers in residence Beverly and Derek Chabert
residence Beverly and Derek Chabert
residence Beverly and Derek Chabert [Applause]
we know your you are here and we know
we know your you are here and we know that you’re telling me right now to
that you’re telling me right now to
that you’re telling me right now to stand back from those animals so next
stand back from those animals so next
stand back from those animals so next I’d like our contributors to stand
I’d like our contributors to stand
I’d like our contributors to stand because your spirit of generosity and
because your spirit of generosity and
because your spirit of generosity and diehard support of our mission allows
diehard support of our mission allows
diehard support of our mission allows National Geographic to travel to the
National Geographic to travel to the
National Geographic to travel to the most remote places on earth to develop
most remote places on earth to develop
most remote places on earth to develop and harness revolutionary new
and harness revolutionary new
and harness revolutionary new technologies to take on the planet’s
technologies to take on the planet’s
technologies to take on the planet’s toughest challenges and to solve some of
toughest challenges and to solve some of
toughest challenges and to solve some of the most intractable problems we’re so
the most intractable problems we’re so
the most intractable problems we’re so grateful for all that you do please our
grateful for all that you do please our
grateful for all that you do please our ico a and other donors
and finally I would like to ask the
and finally I would like to ask the National Geographic staff to stand
National Geographic staff to stand
National Geographic staff to stand because from program management to
because from program management to
because from program management to marketing and communications lawyers and
marketing and communications lawyers and
marketing and communications lawyers and accountants financial people and fund
accountants financial people and fund
accountants financial people and fund raisers the magazine channel travel
raisers the magazine channel travel
raisers the magazine channel travel licensing and digital and beyond you all
licensing and digital and beyond you all
licensing and digital and beyond you all pull together to make this symposium
pull together to make this symposium
pull together to make this symposium week-long festival and everything at
week-long festival and everything at
week-long festival and everything at NatGeo happen take take a bow please
NatGeo happen take take a bow please
NatGeo happen take take a bow please [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
so I would be remiss if I did not
so I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge our partners at Rolex
acknowledge our partners at Rolex
acknowledge our partners at Rolex without whom this event would not be
without whom this event would not be
without whom this event would not be possible this symposium is our chance to
possible this symposium is our chance to
possible this symposium is our chance to come together to learn and to celebrate
come together to learn and to celebrate
come together to learn and to celebrate it’s also an opportunity to relax to
it’s also an opportunity to relax to
it’s also an opportunity to relax to refuel our batteries to close the lucky
refuel our batteries to close the lucky
refuel our batteries to close the lucky bar and to rev up our engines for the
bar and to rev up our engines for the
bar and to rev up our engines for the year ahead
year ahead
year ahead finally it’s a I don’t get paid by the
finally it’s a I don’t get paid by the
finally it’s a I don’t get paid by the lucky bar motto but finally it’s time to
lucky bar motto but finally it’s time to
lucky bar motto but finally it’s time to reconnect to our larger purpose to
reconnect to our larger purpose to
reconnect to our larger purpose to protect our natural world and make an
protect our natural world and make an
protect our natural world and make an incredible difference I ask each of you
incredible difference I ask each of you
incredible difference I ask each of you to make the most out of this week I know
to make the most out of this week I know
to make the most out of this week I know I will my wife Kim will it’s so
I will my wife Kim will it’s so
I will my wife Kim will it’s so inspiring to all of us we want you to
inspiring to all of us we want you to
inspiring to all of us we want you to get to know your colleagues to share
get to know your colleagues to share
get to know your colleagues to share your ideas and to dream together and
your ideas and to dream together and
your ideas and to dream together and then take all of that did you learn back
then take all of that did you learn back
then take all of that did you learn back home and take action to keep pushing and
home and take action to keep pushing and
home and take action to keep pushing and keep striving to make new discoveries
keep striving to make new discoveries
keep striving to make new discoveries and to drive much-needed change the
and to drive much-needed change the
and to drive much-needed change the theme of our gathering this year is
theme of our gathering this year is
theme of our gathering this year is anything is possible with our NatGeo
anything is possible with our NatGeo
anything is possible with our NatGeo explorers our supporters our staff and
explorers our supporters our staff and
explorers our supporters our staff and our proud 129 year legacy anything and
our proud 129 year legacy anything and
our proud 129 year legacy anything and everything is possible so let’s have a
everything is possible so let’s have a
everything is possible so let’s have a great symposium and a great year and
great symposium and a great year and
great symposium and a great year and let’s make history
let’s make history
let’s make history and now I’d like to welcome to the stage
and now I’d like to welcome to the stage
and now I’d like to welcome to the stage the Society’s executive vice president
the Society’s executive vice president
the Society’s executive vice president and chief program math officer to share
and chief program math officer to share
and chief program math officer to share how her team is supporting our Explorer
how her team is supporting our Explorer
how her team is supporting our Explorer universe please welcome my colleague
universe please welcome my colleague
universe please welcome my colleague Brooke Runet thanks everyone
Brooke Runet thanks everyone
Brooke Runet thanks everyone [Music]
[Music]
[Music] ah look at you I’m so excited to be here
ah look at you I’m so excited to be here
ah look at you I’m so excited to be here today this is the this week is the
today this is the this week is the
today this is the this week is the largest assemblage of returning
largest assemblage of returning
largest assemblage of returning explorers we’ve ever had so look around
explorers we’ve ever had so look around
explorers we’ve ever had so look around here you guys are this is more of you
here you guys are this is more of you
here you guys are this is more of you than we’ve ever had in one place before
than we’ve ever had in one place before
than we’ve ever had in one place before and they’re probably a bunch of them
and they’re probably a bunch of them
and they’re probably a bunch of them spilling into campus still after last
spilling into campus still after last
spilling into campus still after last night a little late one of the things
night a little late one of the things
night a little late one of the things that I think that it’s clear from what
that I think that it’s clear from what
that I think that it’s clear from what any of you have seen here before but
any of you have seen here before but
any of you have seen here before but this is the week that shows what we are
this is the week that shows what we are
this is the week that shows what we are this is really about the core of us the
this is really about the core of us the
this is really about the core of us the heart and soul of the organization of
heart and soul of the organization of
heart and soul of the organization of the entire enterprise is explorers it’s
the entire enterprise is explorers it’s
the entire enterprise is explorers it’s all about you in here and it’s all about
all about you in here and it’s all about
all about you in here and it’s all about getting you all together which is so
getting you all together which is so
getting you all together which is so important because collaborating and
important because collaborating and
important because collaborating and showing this community of change is
showing this community of change is
showing this community of change is really what we are and when we feel like
really what we are and when we feel like
really what we are and when we feel like we are at our best because the Explorers
we are at our best because the Explorers
we are at our best because the Explorers have always have always been at the core
have always have always been at the core
have always have always been at the core of what we are and what we do we feel
of what we are and what we do we feel
of what we are and what we do we feel like we are the catalyst and explorers
like we are the catalyst and explorers
like we are the catalyst and explorers are the change we are the helpers of
are the change we are the helpers of
are the change we are the helpers of everyone who is here and whether it’s
everyone who is here and whether it’s
everyone who is here and whether it’s trying to get you started on the first
trying to get you started on the first
trying to get you started on the first grant or
”
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