SES EXPLORER AWARDS - 'OSCARS OF EXPLORATION'

With the support of generous benefactors and members, SES has Explorer Award grants available for funding scientific expeditions. SES seeks inspirational leaders and scientific trailblazers who are organising expeditions that focus on discovery, research, and conservation. Our Explorers must be prepared to take on monumental physical, logistical, and global challenges and share the values of grit, curiosity, integrity, and leadership that pioneers with purpose such as SES Founder Colonel John Blashford-Snell exemplify.

The 2024 Explorer Awards (listed below) are OPEN FOR APPLICATION - APPLY NOW!

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The awards will be presented to the winners at the SES Oscars of Exploration presentation evening on Wednesday 16 October 2024 at the Royal College of Surgeons (London). Tickets to this unique evening of exploration celebration will be available nearer the time. Please do follow us on EVENTBRITE to be alerted when they are available. 

Sir Charles Blois Explorer Award for Science & Adventure

An award of £5,000 and the exclusive title Sir Charles Blois Explorer 2024
The Sir Charles Blois Explorer Award has been created to support a scientific adventurer and trailblazer. The applicant should be undertaking an adventurous expedition with strong physical requirements, in a challenging environment that aims to produce new scientific studies of the physical, social, economic, and cultural life of communities, ideally in more remote regions of the world.

Elodie Sandford Explorer Award for Amateur Photography

An award of at least  £4,000 and the exclusive title Elodie Sandford Explorer 2024
The Elodie Sandford Explorer Award has been created by family and friends in memory of Elodie. The applicant will be an amateur photographer who partakes in an adventurous and innovative project and can demonstrate how their photography will be of real benefit to the people, environment, wildlife, fauna, or flora targeted by the expedition.

Judith Heath Explorer Award for Botany & Research

An award of £5,250 and the exclusive title Judith Heath Explorer 2024
The Judith Heath Explorer Award has been created in memory of Judith Heath, a longstanding member of SES, to support an individual leading an expedition. The applicant should be clear that the focus of their expedition must be to carry out a scientific study of plants, ideally in more remote regions of the world.

Neville Shulman Explorer Award for Expedition Filmmaking

An award of £7,000 and the exclusive title Neville Shulman Explorer 2024
The Neville Shulman Explorer Award has been created to support an expedition combining adventure and scientific purpose focusing on the intangible and/or tangible heritage, ideally in more remote regions of the world. The applicant should be someone who has filmmaking experience and is either organising or closely involved in the planning of a scientific, cultural, or geographical expedition.

O'Hea Explorer Award for Occupational & Environmental Health

An award of £5,000 and the exclusive title O'Hea Explorer 2024
The O’Hea Charitable Trust has been supporting the SES Explorer Award for many years, and this year is funding a new Explorer Award. The trustees are keen to support a research expedition that is focused on occupational and environmental health, or educational wellbeing and advancement in the field. The findings must benefit workers, students, and/or community health, and leave a legacy, whether it be through policy and/or practice.

SES Explorer Award for Inspirational & Scientific Trailblazing

An award of £5,000 and the exclusive title SES Explorer 2024
The SES Explorer Award has been created for a unique individual. The applicant should be an inspirational Scientific Trailblazer whose expedition has that special ‘something’ be it in terms of the nature of research, the legacy it offers, or any other inspiring aspects of the expedition. This award may also support a scientific explorer who has previously received funding from SES for their project or expedition and who wishes to continue their research.

SES Raleigh Explorer Award

A 10-week expedition to Costa Rica or South Africa, including flights and the exclusive title SES Raleigh Explorer 2024
In collaboration with Raleigh International and Operation Raleigh Alumni, we have launched the SES Raleigh Explorer Award, an initiative that will provide opportunities for young individuals from less advantaged backgrounds in the UK to embark on transformative volunteering opportunities abroad. With the Society's historical ties to Raleigh International through Operation Raleigh and Operation Drake, SES joins forces to break barriers, foster diversity, and strengthen the connection between SES and the Raleigh community. The new SES Raleigh Explorer Award, spanning three years (2024 to 2026), will fund 15 young adults (17-24) from less economically advantaged backgrounds to join a Raleigh Expedition. This includes seven places for 2024 and four places in 2025 and 2026.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY AND FIND OUT IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE SES RALEIGH EXPLORER AWARD

SES - Encouraging Diversity

SES is committed to equal opportunities for all, ensuring that no one is denied opportunities or discriminated against through prejudice or exclusion based on race, colour or nationality, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy and maternity, disability, religion or belief, age or any other ground. Our mission is to nurture and grow our community of explorers, ensuring that this community reflects and fully represents diversity, culture, and differing perspectives from around the world.

Please click on the links below to find out more about our incredible Explorer Award winners over the years.

EXPLORER AWARD WINNERS

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AWARDS 2023

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AWARDS 2022

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AWARDS 2021

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AWARDS 2020

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AWARDS 2019

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AWARDS 2018

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AWARDS 2017

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AWARDS 2016

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AWARDS 2015

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AWARDS 2014

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AWARDS 2013

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AWARDS 2012

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AWARDS 2011