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Scientific Exploration Society

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Scientific Exploration Society

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Scientific Exploration Society (SES) is a British Charity (No 267410) dedicated to the exploration and conservation of the planet.

Scientific Exploration Society (SES) is a grant-giving charity and portal to the world of scientific expeditions that focus on climate change, environmental protection, and conservation.

It was founded in 1969 by Colonel John Blashford-Snell CBE and colleagues and since then has engaged in more than 200 expeditions in remote parts of the world. Many thousands of people have participated in these expeditions, not least those of Operations Drake and Raleigh, supported by the then Prince of Wales, which engaged young people from many countries in life-changing exploration, citizen science, and adventure. SES today continues its work to promote exploration and to act as a portal to the world of expeditions involved in climate change, environmental protection, and conservation. Its membership is a unique community, including many famous explorers, dedicated to the challenges and satisfactions of exploration. SES supports and promotes expeditions through funding, mentoring, training, and endorsement. In the process, we collaborate with under-resourced communities around the globe, seeking sustainable solutions and highlighting the challenges faced with our wider community. Members and friends enjoy charity events and regular Explorer Talks and are also given opportunities to go on exciting SES Endorsed scientific expeditions. SES has a dedicated Advisory Board consisting of famous explorers and naturalists including Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Dr Jane Goodall, Rosie Stancer, Pen Hadow, Bear Grylls, Mark Beaumont, Tim Peake, Steve Backshall, Vanessa O’Brien, and Levison Wood. Without its support, and that of its generous benefactors, members, trustees, volunteers, and part-time staff, SES would not achieve all that it does.

28/10/2026

SES EXPLORER SERIES
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What an amazing talk from Dr Sam Allen last night!

Sam took us behind the scenes of some of the world’s most critical health crises and shared his experiences as Medical Officer on JBS’s Kota Mama expedition in 2001. Thank you, Sam, for a brilliant evening!

Our final talk of the year is on Tuesday 24 November, ONLINE!

Join our 2024 Neville Shulman Explorer, Gerson Ferrer, for 'Looking for the Lost Monkey of the Clouds'.

Discover his expedition to find new populations of the critically endangered yellow-tailed woolly monkey, and how conservation, education and film are helping protect this remarkable species and Peru’s biodiversity.

Find out more about Gerson's talk and book your tickets at www.eventbrite.com/cc/explorer-series-powered-by-optimist-performance-604729

YUNKAWASI F***y M. Cornejo

25/10/2026

It was off to the Mere Festival in Wiltshire to interview Charlie Walker. An award-winning explorer, author and speaker, Charlie has clocked up over 100,000 kilometres under his own power, by bicycle, foot, horse, ski, kayak ,canoe and an awful lot of walking. Along the way he has contended with extreme temperatures, unfriendly wildlife, exhaustion and disease, all the usual explorer challenges only he’s also knotched up 3 arrests at my last count, all in Russia, most recently on his last expedition sledging from Yakutz to Titski. Funded by the Scientific Exploration Society with the Elodie Sandford Explorer Award, Charlie set off with the innocent intention being to discover more about the impact of climate change on the Sakha and reindeer tribes. His arrival however, gauchely coincided with the outbreak of war. Where others were rushing to leave Russia, Charlie, with the innate explorer’s curiosity to experience the rare opportunity of learning first-hand how ordinary people respond to being cast haplessly into war, continued. Ultimately discovering less about climate change and a great deal more about the impact on mental fortitude of being locked in solitary confinement in a Russian cell.

No spoilers here. Buy the book, On Thin Ice. It's brilliantly written. With language as clear as new ice, and not a hint of Orwellian doublespeak, Charlie paints a pencil-snappingly tense picture of travelling through a world in which people believe — or pretend to believe — one version of reality while living in quite another.

Charlie Walker Mere Literary Festival Scientific Exploration Society

22/10/2026

OSCARS OF EXPLORATION

22/10/2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN

The entire SES family would like to wish our founder, John Blashford-Snell, a very happy birthday!

John’s passion for exploration, his boundless enthusiasm for adventure and his ability to inspire others have been at the heart of the Society’s story from the very beginning. His remarkable spirit of curiosity and discovery continues to inspire explorers, adventurers and everyone who shares a love of venturing into the unknown.

We’re incredibly proud of the legacy John has created and the many adventures, friendships and discoveries that have grown from it over the years.

Have a wonderful day, John, and thank you for a lifetime of inspiration, adventure and friendship!

21/10/2026

2026 OSCARS OF EXPLORATION EVENT VIDEO

And here’s our video brilliantly created Ty Redif Photography. Thank you Ty! ⭐️

21/10/2026

2026 OSCARS OF EXPLORATION ALBUM

We are delighted to share this with you all. Thank you for the fantastic photos Frances Eyre ⭐️

20/10/2026

Crikey Magazine Photography Competition - People's Choice

We've voted for our brilliant 2026 Young Scientific Explorer Eagleeyedgirl Jamie Smart!

For over a decade, Australia Zoo’s Crikey! Magazine Photography Competition has encouraged the conservation of wildlife and wild places through photography. Every year, the ever-growing competition welcomes thousands of images from avid photographers around the globe. Photographs celebrate the ric...

17/10/2026

SES EXPLORER SERIES
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Our next talk is with Dr Sam Allen, a specialist in Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine who has worked at the frontlines of some of the world's most critical health crises, including AIDS, Ebola, and Zika outbreaks.

Sam will take you on an immersive journey through high-consequence infectious diseases and sudden-onset disasters, revealing what it means to practice medicine at the sharp end of global health emergencies.

The Hollywood Arms

Time: 7:00pmDate: Tuesday 27 October 2026Venue: The Boulevard Bar...

16/10/2026

2026 OSCARS OF EXPLORATION
Sponsored by RSK Group

What an inspirational evening on Monday at our Oscars of Exploration Awards Presentation Evening!

Hosted by the wonderful Kate Silverton, the evening brought together a shared passion for science, discovery and exploration, celebrating the people who push boundaries, challenge perceptions and inspire others to see the world differently.

Congratulations to all our award recipients, and a huge thank you to Kate, RSK, Searcys, The Royal College of Surgeons of England, our award supporters and sponsors, wonderful volunteers and everyone who helped make the evening such a memorable celebration!

We look forward to sharing our video of the evening by Ty Redif Photography and album with photos by Frances Eyre very soon.

See you next year!

Raleigh International

15/10/2026

OSCARS OF EXPLORATION
Sponsored by RSK Group

⭐️Inspirational ⭐️

Address

Expedition Base
Shaftesbury
SP79PB

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441747853353

Website

http://www.ses-explore.org/

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