National Geographic Explorers and Nobel Laureates Are Featured in Second Season of ‘The Big Idea’ Speaker Series

WASHINGTON (Oct. 10, 2012)—National Geographic Live and the Nobel Prize Series have announced the second year of their partnership on the speaker series “The Big Idea,” featuring Nobel Laureates in conversation with National Geographic explorers. As with last year’s groundbreaking inaugural series, the theme will be exploration. The venue for the three ticketed evening events, part of the National Geographic Live series for 2012, is Grosvenor Auditorium at National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C.

“Blue Holes & Dark Energy: Mapping the Unknown,” opens the series on Wednesday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. Adam Reiss, 2011 Nobel Laureate in Physics, and National Geographic’s 2011 Explorer of the Year Kenny Broad will discuss the adventure of exploring unknown realms and how their explorations provide clarity both on human origins and the future of the cosmos. Senior Executive Producer of National Geographic Specials John Bredar will moderate.

The second event in the series, “Locust Swarms and Ozone Holes,” on Friday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m., pairs 1996 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry Mario Molina with behavioral ecologist Iain Couzin, a National Geographic Emerging Explorer. Both together and separately, their scientific research is making an impact on public policy. Boyd Matson, leading broadcast journalist for National Geographic and host of National Geographic Weekend radio show, will moderate.

“What Makes a Society Successful: A Look at Human and Chimpanzee Communities,” rounds out the series on Tuesday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m. Roger Myerson, 2007 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences, and Jill Pruetz, biological anthropologist and National Geographic Emerging Explorer, will share insights into information sharing, conflict resolution and social cohesion within human and chimpanzee societies, with an eye toward how each species uses cognition to improve its society. Matson will moderate.

“The pairing of Nobel Laureates and National Geographic explorers is a natural one, driven by both organizations’ appreciation and support for science and exploration. We are excited about the second year of this series and hope that together we can spur enlightening conversations about human achievement and achieve National Geographic’s mission of inspiring people to care about the planet,” said National Geographic Vice President for Public Programs Greg McGruder.

“We are delighted to continue this partnership with the National Geographic Society and ‘The Big Idea’ speaker series. With the unique and inspiring combination of Nobel Laureates and National Geographic explorers, the events broaden knowledge and interest in the Nobel Prize- awarded achievements and their impact on society,” said Camilla Hylt?n-Cavallius, CEO for Nobel Media.

Tickets to each event are $20 for National Geographic members and $22 for the general public. Package tickets for the three-part series are $57 for National Geographic members and $63 for the general public. Each event will be followed by a reception at National Geographic headquarters. Tickets are on sale at www.nglive.org.

About the Nobel Prize Series and Nobel Media

The Nobel Prize Series encompasses broad lecture programs and is managed by Nobel Media AB, the company responsible for managing and developing media rights in connection with the Nobel Prize. Nobel Media aims to spread knowledge and interest in the Nobel Prize-awarded achievements to a global audience, through digital and broadcast media, publishing and events.

Nobel Media?, Nobel Prize? and Nobel Prize Series? are registered trademarks of the Nobel Foundation.

About National Geographic Live

National Geographic Live is a branded series of events including live concerts, films and dynamic presentations by today’s leading explorers, scientists, filmmakers and photographers, covering a wide range of topics such as exploration and adventure; wildlife and habitat; natural phenomena; and relevant issues such as climate change and energy conservation. Proceeds from speaker series ticket sales help fund future National Geographic initiatives in field research, exploration and education. For more information, visit www.nglive.org.

Contacts:

Merci Olsson

Nobel Prize Series

+46 738523595

merci.olsson@nobelmedia.se

Carrie Engel

National Geographic Society

(202) 457-8449

cengel@ngs.org

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National Geographic Explorers and Nobel Laureates Are Featured in Second Season of ‘The Big Idea’ Speaker Series

WASHINGTON (Oct. 10, 2012)—National Geographic Live and the Nobel Prize Series have announced the second year of their partnership on the speaker series “The Big Idea,” featuring Nobel Laureates in conversation with National Geographic explorers. As with last year’s groundbreaking inaugural series, the theme will be exploration. The venue for the three ticketed evening events, part of the National Geographic Live series for 2012, is Grosvenor Auditorium at National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C.

“Blue Holes & Dark Energy: Mapping the Unknown,” opens the series on Wednesday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. Adam Reiss, 2011 Nobel Laureate in Physics, and National Geographic’s 2011 Explorer of the Year Kenny Broad will discuss the adventure of exploring unknown realms and how their explorations provide clarity both on human origins and the future of the cosmos. Senior Executive Producer of National Geographic Specials John Bredar will moderate.

The second event in the series, “Locust Swarms and Ozone Holes,” on Friday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m., pairs 1996 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry Mario Molina with behavioral ecologist Iain Couzin, a National Geographic Emerging Explorer. Both together and separately, their scientific research is making an impact on public policy. Boyd Matson, leading broadcast journalist for National Geographic and host of National Geographic Weekend radio show, will moderate.

“What Makes a Society Successful: A Look at Human and Chimpanzee Communities,” rounds out the series on Tuesday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m. Roger Myerson, 2007 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences, and Jill Pruetz, biological anthropologist and National Geographic Emerging Explorer, will share insights into information sharing, conflict resolution and social cohesion within human and chimpanzee societies, with an eye toward how each species uses cognition to improve its society. Matson will moderate.

“The pairing of Nobel Laureates and National Geographic explorers is a natural one, driven by both organizations’ appreciation and support for science and exploration. We are excited about the second year of this series and hope that together we can spur enlightening conversations about human achievement and achieve National Geographic’s mission of inspiring people to care about the planet,” said National Geographic Vice President for Public Programs Greg McGruder.

“We are delighted to continue this partnership with the National Geographic Society and ‘The Big Idea’ speaker series. With the unique and inspiring combination of Nobel Laureates and National Geographic explorers, the events broaden knowledge and interest in the Nobel Prize- awarded achievements and their impact on society,” said Camilla Hylt?n-Cavallius, CEO for Nobel Media.

Tickets to each event are $20 for National Geographic members and $22 for the general public. Package tickets for the three-part series are $57 for National Geographic members and $63 for the general public. Each event will be followed by a reception at National Geographic headquarters. Tickets are on sale at www.nglive.org.

About the Nobel Prize Series and Nobel Media

The Nobel Prize Series encompasses broad lecture programs and is managed by Nobel Media AB, the company responsible for managing and developing media rights in connection with the Nobel Prize. Nobel Media aims to spread knowledge and interest in the Nobel Prize-awarded achievements to a global audience, through digital and broadcast media, publishing and events.

Nobel Media?, Nobel Prize? and Nobel Prize Series? are registered trademarks of the Nobel Foundation.

About National Geographic Live

National Geographic Live is a branded series of events including live concerts, films and dynamic presentations by today’s leading explorers, scientists, filmmakers and photographers, covering a wide range of topics such as exploration and adventure; wildlife and habitat; natural phenomena; and relevant issues such as climate change and energy conservation. Proceeds from speaker series ticket sales help fund future National Geographic initiatives in field research, exploration and education. For more information, visit www.nglive.org.

Contacts:

Merci Olsson

Nobel Prize Series

+46 738523595

merci.olsson@nobelmedia.se

Carrie Engel

National Geographic Society

(202) 457-8449

cengel@ngs.org

###

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National Geographic Explorers to Speak at Free Event at McGill University

MONTREAL (Sept. 24, 2012)—A free public presentation on field research and exploration featuring National Geographic Emerging Explorer and ecological anthropologist Kenny Broad and renowned alpinist and The North Face athlete Conrad Anker will be held at McGill University on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012. The event will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Leacock Building (Room 132) on the McGill campus.

Anker (http://www.thenorthface.com/en_US/exploration/athletes/3-conrad-anker/) is well-known as an accomplished alpinist and a key member of the search team that located the remains of legendary British climber George Mallory on Mount Everest. He will share highlights from his most recent expedition of Mount Everest, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the first successful American summit of the mountain.

Broad (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/explorers/bios/kenny-broad/), who has a long history of diving and producing documentary films and was named one of National Geographic’s Explorers of the Year in 2011, will recount his recent expedition to one of the most challenging and spectacular frontiers in exploration: the Bahamas Blue Holes.

The public presentation will follow a daylong workshop for McGill students on National Geographic’s Young Explorers Grants program. The Young Explorers grants support aspiring scientists and researchers between the ages of 18 and 25 in their pursuit of research-, exploration- and conservation-based field projects. The workshop will enable students interested in pursuing Young Explorers grants to meet with recent grant recipients as well as National Geographic staff, explorers, conservationists and researchers. They will learn about the types of projects the grant program supports and will have an opportunity to pitch ideas for field projects to National Geographic grantees and staff.

“The Young Explorers program is a unique way for young scientists and explorers to take steps into field research. It’s their first shot, and we take a risk on them that has really paid off. We realized that, by supporting younger individuals on their first field projects, we could reach a new sector and new generation of scientists,” said John Francis, National Geographic’s vice president of research, conservation and exploration. “Our growing number of Young Explorers is helping National Geographic better fulfill our mission to inspire people to care about the planet.”

The Sept. 29 workshop is hosted by McGill with support from the National Geographic Society, Lucy and Henry Billingsley, Panasonic, the Brinson Foundation and The North Face.

“For anyone interested in exploration, research or conservation, this workshop is exactly what you need to help you get started,” said Colin Chapman, biologist and anthropologist at McGill University and member of the Committee for Research and Exploration at National Geographic.

WHAT:            Free public presentation by explorers from the National Geographic Society and The North Face

WHO:               Conrad Anker, The North Face athlete and renowned alpinist

Kenny Broad, ecological anthropologist and National Geographic Emerging Explorer

WHERE:         Leacock Building, Room 132

WHEN:            Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012; doors open at 7 p.m., program starts at 7:30 p.m.

CONTACT:     Kelsey Flora, National Geographic, kflora@ngs.org, (202) 828-8023

Cynthia Lee, Media Relations Officer, McGill University, Cynthia.Lee@mcgill.ca, (514) 398-6754

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Information on National Geographic’s Young Explorers Grants program:

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/field/grants-programs/young-explorers/

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National Geographic Kids Explorers Embark On Montana Expedition

WASHINGTON (July 6, 2012)—Fifteen winners of the 2012 National Geographic Kids Hands-On Explorer Challenge expedition to inspire the next generation of National Geographic explorers embark today on a 10-day Montana expedition. The contest winners, ages 9-14, have demonstrated a passion for exploration through their photos and essays, which were selected from more than 1,000 entry submissions from the United States and Canada. Throughout the expedition, sponsored in part by the Montana Office of Tourism, the young explorers will document this field trip of a lifetime and their discoveries in their own words and pictures, which will be posted regularly on the Hands-On Explorer Challenge blog.

Highlights of the expedition will include exploring the scenic Missouri River and tracing the footsteps of Lewis and Clark; learning fossil recognition and excavation procedures in a dig for dinosaur bones; and practicing photography tips from National Geographic photographers on hikes through Glacier National Park.

The 15 expedition team members are Mariah Adams, 12, from Lubbock, Texas; Arabella Chen, 12, from Frederick, Md.; Amelia Dougherty, 10, from East Freetown, N.Y.; Jordan Drossman, 12, from Armonk, N.Y.; Ellie Dufraine, 14, from Westfield, Mass.; Lena Hu, 14, from Chapel Hill, N.C.; Jackson Jacobs, 9, from Hillsboro, Tenn.; Edward Jamison, 11, from Schenectady, N.Y.; Caitlin Lynch, 12, from Bradenton, Fla.; Michael Marcham, 9, from Snohomish, Wash.; Emily Marshall, 10, from Ashburn, Va.; Dillian Staack, 10, from Miranda, Calif.; Katherine Wendeln, 11, from Mason, Ohio; Benjamin Zino, 11, from Salisbury, N.C.; and Hannah Zoller, 14, from Charleston, S.C.

“These kids are ready to get outside and experience everything Montana has to offer,” said Melina Bellows, National Geographic’s executive vice president and chief creative officer, Books, Kids and Family. “We’re proud of these budding explorers and hope to see them return as National Geographic conservationists, explorers and photographers.”

“Montana is very excited to have been chosen as the first U.S. destination for the National Geographic Hands-On Explorer Challenge expedition,” said Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer. “We are honored to be partnering with National Geographic Kids in providing this opportunity to bring these eager and inquisitive children from all corners of the U.S. to Montana to fully appreciate and experience the sense of wonderment that being engaged in nature and the outdoors affords them. We are certain they will come away inspired by Montana’s deep history, rich culture and dramatic beauty.”

Accompanying the winners will be Boyd Matson, host of the radio program “National Geographic Weekend”; National Geographic Kids science editor Catherine Hughes; and National Geographic Traveler magazine senior photography editor Dan Westergren. The expedition to Montana is the sixth NG Kids Hands-On Explorer Challenge expedition. Previous destinations have been the Gal?pagos Islands, South Africa, Australia, Peru and the Cayman Islands.

To read excerpts from the winning essays and to see the winning photos, visit Kids.NationalGeographic.com.

About National Geographic Kids
National Geographic Kids inspires young adventurers to explore the world through award-winning magazines, books, apps, games, toys, videos, events and a website, and is the only kids brand with a world-class scientific organization at its core. National Geographic Kids magazine (10 issues per year) and Little Kids magazine (six issues per year) are photo-driven publications available on newsstands or by subscription in print and on tablets. The award-winning website kids.nationalgeographic.com excites kids about the planet through games, videos, contests, photos, quizzes and blogs about cultures, animals and destinations. National Geographic Kids Books is the leading nonfiction publisher with as many as 100 titles each year, including the New York Times bestseller “Kids Almanac.” National Geographic Kids Games engages kids to learn through play with games like the online virtual animal world of Animal Jam and the interactive TV experience of Nat Geo Kinect TV. National Geographic Kids Apps bring the best of National Geographic Kids to smart phones and tablets.

About the Montana Office of Tourism
The Montana Office of Tourism (MTOT) has the enviable job of enticing travelers to choose Montana as a vacation destination. By showcasing its spectacular nature, unspoiled landscapes, iconic wildlife and vibrant, welcoming towns, MTOT highlights the many attributes that make Montana a distinctive and unparalleled travel experience. A variety of tools have been developed to assist travelers with their vacation planning. VisitMT.com serves as an all-inclusive resource for inspiration as well as information on what to do, where to go and where to stay. GetLostMT.com provides a “go where the locals go” perspective on where to eat, stay and play while traveling off-the-beaten path in Montana, while the new interactive (and free) iPad magazine, Get Lost in Montana — The Magazine, meets the needs of the tech-savvy traveler with journalistic photography, slideshows, video clips and narrative storytelling to encourage and inspire travel to Montana. Ultimately, in its mission to promote the state, MTOT strives to improve Montana’s economic vitality while maintaining an exceptional visitor experience and preserving Montana’s incomparable environment and quality of life.

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