National Geographic’s ‘Digital Nomad’ Andrew Evans Embarks on Around-the-World Expedition by Private Jet

WASHINGTON (Oct. 17, 2012)—Andrew Evans, National Geographic Traveler magazine’s “Digital Nomad,” has set off on an Around the World by Private Jet trip with National Geographic Expeditions. As he explores with National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Wade Davis, art historian Jack Daulton and National Geographic photographer Massimo Bassano, Evans will tweet, blog, vlog and “Instagram” on NationalGeographic.com’s Digital Nomad blog (http://digitalnomad.nationalgeographic.com/), his Twitter feed @WheresAndrew and his Where’s Andrew Facebook page.

“I’ve gone on some pretty cool trips, but this one truly will be an expedition of a lifetime for me and my digital community,” said Evans. “Who else but National Geographic could offer such an exceptional trip to some of the world’s most legendary places, accompanied by top National Geographic experts?”

After a welcome reception at National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C., in early October, the group of travelers boarded the private jet for Peru, where they visited Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu. They then flew to Easter Island, Samoa and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Evans joins the group in Cambodia, where they explore Angkor Wat’s vast temple complex. From there, they encounter giant pandas on a visit to the Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center in China and continue to Lhasa, Tibet, to see the fabled Potala Palace. In Agra, India, they explore the exquisite Taj Mahal, one of the greatest monuments built for love.

The next stop brings the group to Tanzania, where paleontologist and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Louise Leakey will meet with them to discuss the Leakey family’s historic fossil finds. Then it’s off to Egypt to explore Luxor, the Pyramids and the Sphinx. The final stop is Marrakech, Morocco, where they visit the Koutoubia Mosque, Bahia Palace and the colorful suqs. In just 24 days, the travelers will have discovered 12 UNESCO World Heritage sites and seen some of the most legendary places in the world.

“Our Around the World by Private Jet expedition is one of the most unique and exhilarating trips out there,” said Lynn Cutter, National Geographic’s executive vice president for Travel. “Our travelers explore so many celebrated sites in just 24 days, in the company of some of our top researchers, photographers and adventurers. To have Andrew Evans on board capturing and sharing incredible moments as they happen is a fantastic opportunity for all of us to join in the adventure.”

Evans is a veteran travel writer for National Geographic Traveler magazine and National Geographic’s Intelligent Travel blog. His most recent assignments have taken him to Switzerland and Norway. These trips came on the heels of a journey through South Africa and Malawi, where he was one of the first people to report the death of Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika. In February he visited Maya sites in Mexico. Last year he explored the best of Ontario, Canada; tweeted and blogged around Japan; and wined and dined his way through Louisiana, experiencing the best of the bayou and New Orleans. He finished the year skiing, snow-shoeing and trekking through western Canada’s ski country with renowned mountaineers, ski instructors and naturalists.

In 2010 Evans journeyed from Washington, D.C., to Antarctica — a 10,000-mile trip through 14 countries — using public transportation as far as he could go. He rode buses to Ushuaia in Argentina, the southernmost city in the world, and then boarded the National Geographic Explorer to Antarctica.

About National Geographic Traveler Magazine

National Geographic Traveler: Nobody Knows This World Better. National Geographic Traveler is the world’s most widely read travel magazine. Published eight times a year, Traveler is available by subscription, on newsstands in the United States and Canada and digitally for tablets like the iPad (on Zinio) and Nook (at BN.com). Its website (www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler) offers inspiring and authoritative digital content including trip ideas, photo galleries and blogs. It also houses travel apps, including 50 Places of a Lifetime that showcases the world’s greatest destinations handpicked by National Geographic’s family of globe-trotting contributors, and the award-winning National Parks app, filled with stunning pictures, maps and tips to explore America’s national parks.

About National Geographic Expeditions

National Geographic Expeditions is the travel program of the National Geographic Society, with expeditions to more than 60 destinations across all seven continents. A National Geographic expert — photographer, biologist, anthropologist or writer — accompanies these trips to enrich the experience with insights and an insider perspective. National Geographic Expeditions features land journeys, family programs, small-ship expeditions, active adventure trips, private jet trips, photography workshops and expeditions, and student programs. All proceeds from National Geographic’s travel programs support the Society’s aim of increasing global understanding through exploration, education and scientific research. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society’s mission is to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 400 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; live events; interactive media; merchandise; and travel programs. National Geographic has funded more than 10,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy.

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National Geographic Museum to Feature Birds-of-Paradise

WASHINGTON (Oct. 22, 2012)—This fall, take a journey to New Guinea and the exotic world of birds-of-paradise with “Birds of Paradise: Amazing Avian Evolution,” a new exhibition at the National Geographic Museum that reveals all 39 species of these elusive birds for the first time. Highlighting the groundbreaking research of photographer Tim Laman and Cornell Lab of Ornithology scientist Edwin Scholes, the exhibition, born out of the duo’s important scientific achievement, features the extravagant plumage, crazy courtship dances and bizarre behaviors of the extraordinary birds. The exhibition will run from Thursday, Nov. 1, through early May 2013.

Since their partnership began in 2004, Laman and Scholes have been dedicated to documenting and understanding the lives of birds-of-paradise. During 18 expeditions over eight years, the two were able to capture photographs, videos and detailed observations of these important species of birds. Known for their unique looks and mating rituals, the birds-of-paradise are a prime example of sexual selection and are surely one of the most elegant examples of extreme evolution on Earth. The birds are found in one of the most untarnished environments in the world: the remote rain forests of the New Guinea region.

Equal parts natural history, photography and science exhibition, “Birds of Paradise” gives visitors an in-depth look into the lives of birds-of-paradise. Visitors will meet Laman and Scholes through introductory videos as they enter the exhibit, where they will also be greeted with natural soundscapes, traditional wood carvings and a montage of all 39 birds-of-paradise species. They will be able to dive into their groundbreaking research and learn brand new information about each of the 39 species, all finally photographed for the first time in history.

In addition, visitors can examine the bizarre courtship dances that the males perform to attract the females. Interactive games such as “Dance, Dance Evolution” let people dance along with the birds to learn their signature moves. The first-ever video of the female’s point-of-view of the dances is shown, captured through an innovative use of equipment created by Laman and Scholes. Photos, videos, bird specimens and a kinetic sculpture of a riflebird (a bird-of-paradise species) also show the transformations that birds-of-paradise undergo to attract their mates and the various moves that make up their mating rituals. Visitors can also manipulate artificial tree branches to trigger video footage of different birds displayed on their perches, with commentary from Scholes.

The exhibition highlights the importance of birds-of-paradise to New Guinea. Maps and diagrams of the birds’ ranges across the country explain how the country’s environment allowed the birds to adapt and evolve over time. Legends and folklore are shared from generations past.

Visitors to the exhibition can also explore old and new scientific knowledge about the birds-of-paradise, including previous misconceptions, vintage illustrations and information on how the giants of evolutionary studies, including Charles Darwin, were fascinated by the birds. Modern science and conservation efforts are featured, with findings from Laman and Scholes as well as other well-known figures such as evolutionary biologist and author Jared Diamond. Interactive games teach visitors how sexual selection works, and a Species Atlas app offers information on all 39 species.

The “Birds of Paradise” exhibition is part of a National Geographic Society-wide effort focusing on these birds and was developed with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. A companion book to the exhibition, “BIRDS OF PARADISE: Revealing the World’s Most Extraordinary Birds,” by Laman and Scholes, goes on sale Oct. 23; a documentary on the National Geographic Channel, “Winged Seduction: Birds of Paradise,” will air on Nov. 22 and be released later on DVD; National Geographic Live lectures on the birds will be presented in venues across the country, including in National Geographic’s Grosvenor Auditorium on Nov. 1 and 3; an article on birds-of-paradise will appear in the December 2012 issue of National Geographic magazine, with bonus materials in the iPad edition; and an education portal can be found at www.natgeoed.org/birds-of-paradise.

The National Geographic Museum, 1145 17th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., is open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is closed Dec. 25. Admission is $8 for adults; $6 for National Geographic members, military, students, seniors and groups of 25 or more; $4 for children ages 5-12; and free (reservation required) for school, student and youth groups (age 18 and under). Tickets may be purchased online at www.ngmuseum.org; via telephone at (202) 857-7700; or in person at the National Geographic ticket office, 1600 M Street, N.W., between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. For more information on group sales, call (202) 857-7281 or email groupsales@ngs.org.

Photography exhibitions in the museum’s M Street gallery and outdoors are free.

For information on the “Birds of Paradise: Amazing Avian Evolution” exhibition or the museum’s other fall exhibition, “1001 Inventions: Discover the Golden Age of Muslim Civilization,” the public should call (202) 857-7588 or visit www.ngmuseum.org.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society’s mission is to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 400 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; school publishing programs; live events; interactive media; merchandise; and travel programs. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is nonprofit, member-supported organization with the mission to interpret and conserve the earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds. Founded in 1915, the Lab is supported by 50,000 members and engages 200,000 citizen-science participants and 6 million bird enthusiasts who connect online at www.allaboutbirds.org. As a proud unit of Cornell University, the Lab has a leading team of faculty, educators, conservation scientists, and engineers continuing a strong history of excellence in science, technological innovation, and outreach. Learn more at www.birds.cornell.edu.

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National Geographic Kids Magazine Sets Out to Claim 2 Guinness World Records® Titles Tied to Running and Recycling

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT

On Saturday, Oct. 27, media are invited to watch 3,600 kids help break the Guinness World Records? title for most people running 100 meters within a 24-hour period. Through National Geographic Kids’ Run for the Planet program, in coordination with the Marine Corps Marathon’s Healthy Kids Fun Run, the Pentagon North parking lot will be packed with kids devoted to fitness, with Marines cheering them on.

Kids Run participants will contribute to the record as they complete a one-miler, and all runners will be observed by Guinness World Records representative Mike Janela. Per record rules, runners also will be confirmed by two independent witnesses: healthy lifestyle coach Kathy Pugh, owner of women’s running boot camp EZ8DC; and DeShay Williams, co-owner of personal training studio Definitions (both of Washington, D.C.). In addition, runners worldwide will help set the record with 100-meter runs between noon ET, Friday, Oct. 26, and noon ET Saturday, Oct. 27. Five thousand participants are needed for the record.

To simultaneously engage people in recycling, National Geographic Kids is also collecting old athletic shoes for the longest chain of shoes. With the help of Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe program, the sneakers will be recycled into Nike Grind — a material used in athletic surfaces such as basketball courts and running tracks — after they have been tied into a chain later this year. The goal: 25,000 shoes. Shoes contributed by stars such as the NFL’s Eli Manning and race car driver Danica Patrick can be seen at National Geographic’s Washington headquarters, 1145 17th St. NW, where people can also drop off their shoes through Nov. 9.

Macerich malls across the country — including Tysons Corner Center in McLean, Va. — will be holding events. See macerich.com/ngkids for details. For more on either record attempt, go to kids.nationalgeographic.com/run-for-the-planet/.

WHERE:

Marine Corps Marathon Healthy Kids Fun Run, Pentagon North Parking Lot

WHEN:

Saturday, Oct. 27, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Final wave organized by National Geographic
Kids: 11:57 a.m.

WHO:

Rachel Buchholz, Executive Editor, National Geographic Kids magazine
Mike Janela, Head of U.S. Records Management, Guinness World Records North America, Inc.

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