Our Explorer Awards empower the next generation of scientific explorers by funding ambitious expeditions that advance discovery, research, and conservation. Supported by the generosity of our benefactors, our grants provide emerging leaders with the opportunity to build experience, develop confidence, and undertake projects that can shape their future careers while inspiring a lifelong commitment to exploration. We are looking for pioneering individuals who are ready to take on significant physical, logistical, and global challenges, and who embody the values of curiosity, grit, integrity, and leadership that have defined our organisation since its founding by Colonel John Blashford-Snell. Through their work, our Explorers contribute meaningful scientific knowledge while inspiring others to push the boundaries of what is possible.
About our Explorer Awards
Explorer Awards: Application Process
The application journey is rigorous and multi-layered, involving three distinct stages of assessment. Each stage is overseen by a dedicated team of scientists, explorers, and academics, carefully selected for their expertise. The entire process is supervised by our Awards Committee Chair and Deputy Chair to ensure fairness and integrity throughout.
Key Dates:
Stage 1: 12 December – 1 February
Stage 2: 2 March – 22 March
Stage 3: 20 April – 18 May
Winners notified by 31 June
We have now closed to applications and look forward to celebrating with our 2026 award winners at the Oscars of Exploration on 12 October at the Royal College of Surgeons, London.
We will share details of our 2027 Explorer Awards in December.
Key Dates:
Stage 1: 12 December – 1 February
Stage 2: 2 March – 22 March
Stage 3: 20 April – 18 May
Winners notified by 31 June
We have now closed to applications and look forward to celebrating with our 2026 award winners at the Oscars of Exploration on 12 October at the Royal College of Surgeons, London.
We will share details of our 2027 Explorer Awards in December.
2026 Explorer Award Criteria
Our 2026 Explorer Awards
Photo: SES Explorer Amber Carter
Sir Charles Blois Explorer Award
for Science & Adventure
for Science & Adventure
Sir Charles Blois is a long-time friend to and supporter of SES. His passion for travel and adventure is unquenchable and on a par with that of SES Founder Colonel John Blashford-Snell CBE who he hails as his inspiration.
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 communities' physical, social, economic, and cultural life.
Grant Sum £5,000, supported by Sir Charles Blois Bt.
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 communities' physical, social, economic, and cultural life.
Grant Sum £5,000, supported by Sir Charles Blois Bt.
Photo: SES Explorer Reza Saputra
Elodie Sandford Explorer Award
for Amateur Photography
for Amateur Photography
Elodie Sandford was a highly regarded Honorary Vice-President of SES, a keen amateur photographer and participant in many of John Blashford-Snell’s expeditions.
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.
Grant Sum £4,000 to £7,000, supported by Family and Friends of Elodie Sandford.
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.
Grant Sum £4,000 to £7,000, supported by Family and Friends of Elodie Sandford.
Photo: SES Explorer Beki Henderson
Neville Shulman Explorer Award
for Expedition Filmmaking
for Expedition Filmmaking
Neville Shulman CBE is an explorer, mountaineer, adventurer, author and long-time member and supporter of SES. He is personal consultant and advisor to film directors, producers and film studios and has a wide and varied interest in film, culture, the arts, and exploration.
This award is to support expeditions combining adventure and scientific purpose focusing on the intangible and/or tangible heritage. 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. The winner will produce a short film to communicate the expedition journey and results.
Grant Sum £10,000, supported by Neville Shulman CBE.
This award is to support expeditions combining adventure and scientific purpose focusing on the intangible and/or tangible heritage. 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. The winner will produce a short film to communicate the expedition journey and results.
Grant Sum £10,000, supported by Neville Shulman CBE.
Photo: SES Explorer Scott Pallett
O'Hea Explorer Award
for Occupational & Environmental Health
for Occupational & Environmental Health
The O’Hea Charitable Trust have been supporting the SES Explorer Award for many years, and this year are 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 of which must benefit workers, students and/or community health, and leave a legacy, whether it be through policy and/or practice.
Grant Sum £5,000, supported by the O'Hea Family.
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 of which must benefit workers, students and/or community health, and leave a legacy, whether it be through policy and/or practice.
Grant Sum £5,000, supported by the O'Hea Family.
Photo: SES Explorer Sarah Tubbs
SES Explorer Award
for Inspirational & Scientific Trailblazing
for Inspirational & Scientific Trailblazing
The supporters are looking for someone unique. 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 previously received funding from SES for their project or expedition and wishes to continue their research.
Grant Sum £5,000, supported by the Rowan Bentall Charitable Trust, David Prichard, Gordon Banks and SES Trustees.
This award may also support a scientific explorer who previously received funding from SES for their project or expedition and wishes to continue their research.
Grant Sum £5,000, supported by the Rowan Bentall Charitable Trust, David Prichard, Gordon Banks and SES Trustees.
