Earthwatch Institute has announced a strategic alliance with National Geographic Expeditions, offering a selection of expeditions sponsored by both organizations to some seven million National Geographic Society members. By combining Earthwatch's innovative participatory model with National Geographic's broad global audience, the partnership will expand public support and involvement in important research projects worldwide. This collaboration will enable far more people to be involved in research projects which are co-sponsored by the two organizations and have undergone a joint peer-review process.
"This partnership provides a significant opportunity to increase funding of important field science at a time when other sources of funding are scarce," said Dr. Marie Studer, executive director of Earthwatch Institute's Center for Field Research. "This alliance between two of the largest private nonprofit supporters of scientific field research stands to bring increased public support to urgently needed research projects worldwide."
For more than a century, the National Geographic Society has funded scientific research and exploration, and has shown generations of readers the world in all its diversity and splendor through National Geographic Magazine. Earthwatch Institute, with 30 years of experience involving over 65,000 volunteers in more than 2,800 research projects around the world, is the perfect partner to offer National Geographic Society members a new way to make a difference in the world through their participation.
"This is an ideal partnership between our two organizations, as we share a common mission of promoting sustainable conservation of Earth's natural resources," said Terry Garcia, National Geographic's executive vice president for mission programs.
"The expeditions will give travelers a unique opportunity to work side-by-side with scientific experts, while making a valuable contribution to conservation efforts in key areas."
Five expeditions focusing on a range of disciplines and locations will be cosponsored by the two organizations this inaugural year, but the alliance will benefit many more deserving projects in the future. The initial five include: exploring the ecology and behavior of threatened carnivores on Madagascar, including the elusive fosa; excavating Copper Age sites on Mallorca to help write the prehistory of the Mediterranean; discovering the behavior of Alaskan sea otters using an innovative new photo-identification method; monitoring the population biology of bottlenose dolphins on the coast of Florida; and conducting research on a range of subjects, from jaguars to otters, as part of Earthwatch's new Conservation Research Center in the Pantanal of Brazil.
Earthwatch volunteers have been gathering data for National Geographic-sponsored scientists almost since Earthwatch's founding in 1971, from studies of hyaenas in Kenya's Masai Mara to monitoring dolphins in New Zealand. In the early 1970s, National Geographic Television made four films of Earthwatch-supported research, including Harvard astronomer Dr. Donald Menzel's expedition into the desert of Mauritania to observe a solar eclipse. Every year the National Geographic Society hosts Earthwatch's annual film awards in Washington, D.C. But the new alliance between the organizations represents a more active association, with significant benefits for field researchers and the ecosystems and cultures they study through greater exposure and support.
"This alliance brings to focus a long relationship between Earthwatch and National Geographic at a critical time for the future sustainability of the Earth," said Roger Bergen, president of Earthwatch Institute. "The partnership confirms our shared commitment to cutting-edge field research, as well as innovative education and conservation initiatives. Our complementary strengths will bring new life to global field science efforts."
For more information on the new alliance, visit http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngexpeditions
Earthwatch Institute is an international nonprofit organization which supports scientific field research worldwide by offering members of the public unique opportunities to work alongside leading field scientists and researchers. The Institute's mission is to engage people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment.