RGS Explore festival
An epic eight-day celebration of expeditions and fieldwork featuring our flagship annual planning weekend, the Explore symposium.
Save the dates
The Explore festival will return this year!
Monday 28 October - Monday 4 November 2024
Explore symposium - Friday 1 - Sunday 3 November 2024
Explore festival
The 2023 Explore festival included a range of stimulating events including: two expedition-themed Monday night lectures, a practical workshop to develop the artistic skills needed to document journeys, and two inspiring panel discussions about overcoming adversity through adventure following catastrophic injury and how the art of exploration heightens connection with nature.
The Festival culminated in our flagship annual planning weekend, the Explore symposium, beginning with a series of microlectures: Welcome home: postcards from the field, short presentations from recently returned expeditions and field research projects; hear what they did, and lessons they learned.
Members may access recordings these events.
A wild future: how do we secure genuinely exciting wilderness expeditions for young people - Honor Wilson-Fletcher MBE
How do we responsibly ensure that young people have fairer access to the transformative impact of expeditions with purpose? Part of the Explore festival.
The art of exploration
Join our panel as they discuss how exploring, studying and drawing what they observe deepens their connections to, and inspires conservation of, the natural world. Part of the Explore festival.
Overcoming adversity through adventure
Three men attempted to become the first unsupported, all disabled team to cross Europe’s biggest ice cap to demonstrate how people can overcome the challenges of a catastrophic injury through adventure. Part of the Explore festival.
Navigating the Great Spine of Africa - Dr Rutledge Stephen Boyes
The Great Spine of Africa expeditions work with community members and multidisciplinary teams to traverse thousands of kilometres of rivers never scientifically documented. Part of the Explore festival.
High risk: climbing to extinction
In this Mount Everest Foundation lecture, Brian Hall tells the story of climbing through the 1970s and 1980s, looking particularly at his memories of 11 friends with whom he climbed.
Welcome home: postcards from the field
Members may view short presentations from recently returned expeditions and field research projects; hear what they did, and lessons they learned.
Following Nan Shepherd
Short presentations from recently returned expeditions and field research projects. Hear what they did, and lessons they learned. Part of the Explore festival.
Imperial College Medical Students to Morocco
Short presentations from recently returned expeditions and field research projects. Hear what they did, and lessons they learned. Part of the Explore festival.
Il Ngwesi Reconnaissance expedition
Short presentations from recently returned expeditions and field research projects. Hear what they did, and lessons they learned. Part of the Explore festival.
Newcastle University expedition to Svalbard 2022
Short presentations from recently returned expeditions and field research projects. Hear what they did, and lessons they learned. Part of the Explore festival.
Walking the Vjosa Expedition
Short presentations from recently returned expeditions and field research projects. Hear what they did, and lessons they learned. Part of the Explore festival.
Mundo Perdido expedition, Belize and Guatemala
Short presentations from recently returned expeditions and field research projects. Hear what they did, and lessons they learned. Part of the Explore festival.
Explore symposium
Over the weekend of 4 and 5 November 2023, the Explore symposium included a wide range of expedition professionals, field scientists, intrepid travellers and each other.
Find out more about the Explore symposium
Members may catch-up on the plenary talks
Speakers
Speakers and workshop leaders will share tales from their recent expeditions, while Society staff will be available to provide personalised advice and guidance on your own future field projects and expeditions.
Explore symposium 2023 - Saturday
Over the weekend of 4 and 5 November 2023, the Explore symposium included a wide range of expedition professionals, field scientists, intrepid travellers and each other.
Explore symposium 2023 - Sunday
Over the weekend of 4 and 5 November 2023, the Explore symposium included a wide range of expedition professionals, field scientists, intrepid travellers and each other.