Wongibe is a passionate Cameroonian conservation biologist dedicated to protecting his home country’s rich but threatened biodiversity. His work is driven by the belief that effective, long-term conservation must be led by the local communities who know and depend on their natural resources best. Specialising in marine and coastal ecosystems, he focuses on developing innovative, ground-up research models that bridge the gap between scientific data and community action.

Wongibe’s expedition will assess threatened shark and ray populations in Cameroon’s Kribi-Campo region, addressing a critical knowledge gap in the Gulf of Guinea. It will be the first dedicated survey of these data-deficient species along the Kribi-Campo coastline. At its heart is a community-science model that trains and employs ten artisanal fishers as salaried seascape stewards. Equipped with GPS units and field sheets, they will record vital spatial data to identify critical habitats - aggregation sites, nurseries, and fishing pressure hotspots where bycatch is high. This collaborative approach combines the gathering of benchmark scientific data with building a sustainable, community-owned framework for marine conservation.

Supported by Sir Charles Blois Bt.

Robin is a doctoral researcher in Anthropology at the University of Heidelberg, exploring the intersection of Indigenous knowledge, political ecology, and global biodiversity governance. Drawing on a decade of professional and academic work, he is developing a ‘Living Knowledge’ framework to ethically integrate plural epistemologies into policy without extracting or fossilising their dynamic, relational nature. Alongside his research, Robin is also an explorer and amateur photographer, spending time living with communities in some of the most remote locations in the world.

Robin’s expedition heads to high-altitude communities along the Kali Gandaki Gorge in Nepal’s Mustang region, to ethically document the 18,000-year-old Indigenous ecological knowledge of the last remaining Bön community. Through an immersive, three-month ethnophotography study combining collaborative transects and participatory mapping, the team will co-produce Bön’s living knowledge alongside the community. The project will also examine the communities’ animistic and shamanistic practices - which foster a profound relationality with the spirit world and more-than-human entities - by analysing rituals, seasonal grazing, and sacred landscape management, contributing to understanding of how non-human agency can shape ecological resilience.

Supported by the family and friends of Elodie Sandford.

Sarah is a documentary filmmaker, photographer, entrepreneur, and explorer, based in Oman since 2010. Originally from rural Wisconsin, she has spent fifteen years working with diverse communities across Oman. She holds a degree in photojournalism from University of Minnesota Twin Cities. For nearly a decade she has run her own production company, creating short documentaries on subjects including sea turtle conservation on Masirah Island and the endangered Kumzari language of Musandam.

Sarah’s expedition to Oman’s remote and largely inaccessible Jebel Samhan mountains will study one of the world’s most important and least-documented frankincense tree populations. An interdisciplinary team will use drones and ground surveys to assess tree health and distribution, while conducting interviews with Dhofari and Somali harvesters to document traditional knowledge, land tenure, and harvesting practices. The team will also explore the complex and evolving socio-ecological relationships that shape environmental management in the mountains. Findings will inform conservation strategies, elevate harvester voices, and support long-term, locally-led protection of both the trees and their cultural traditions.

Supported by Neville Shulman CBE.

Belén is a veterinary scientist (DVM, PhD), researcher and lecturer in Zoology and Ecology. She coordinates and conducts field and laboratory research on wildlife and ecosystem health, working closely with local communities, managing campaigns, and overseeing data collection and analysis. She has spent over a decade studying diseases at the interface of wildlife, domestic animals, and rural communities in northeastern Argentina, combining field epidemiology with conservation to develop practical solutions that communities can sustain.

Belén’s expedition to the Humid Chaco will investigate how zoonotic pathogens circulate in a post-fire landscape where wildlife, livestock, and people live in close contact. Using wild and domestic canids as sentinels, and establishing a Community Alert Network and EcoAlert School Program alongside park rangers and rural families, the project aims to strengthen early disease detection while creating a locally led model for conservation and One Health - an integrated approach that seeks to sustainably balance and optimise the health of people, animals, and ecosystems, recognising that human, animal, plant, and environmental health are closely interconnected.

Supported by the O'Hea Charitable Trust.

Savannah is a digital and landscape archaeologist specialising in remote sensing and cultural heritage protection. A PhD student at the University of Oxford, she also serves as a Research Ambassador, presenting to students from underserved communities. She is passionate about exploring how novel applications of technology can help protect the past. When she isn’t trekking through the rainforest or making maps, Savannah is busy finding ways to share her love of adventure, science, and history with others.

Savannah’s expedition will investigate and document suspected looting identified through aerial LiDAR surveys of archaeological sites in Gallon Jug and the wider Maya Forest region of northwestern Belize. The project will generate valuable data to improve models for detecting and classifying illicit excavations in densely vegetated areas that cannot be studied using traditional aerial or satellite imagery. This will deepen understanding of looting patterns and risk factors, supporting the development of more effective and targeted protection strategies. The expedition also offers a rare opportunity to visit sites that had not been scientifically documented prior to the airborne laser scanning conducted in 2022 by the Belize Estates Archaeological Survey Team.

Supported by the Rowan Bentall Charitable Trust and London Marathon donations.

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 in South Africa and Borneo.

Award supported by SES, Raleigh alumni, members of the Raleigh UK Society (RUKS) and Raleigh International.

Jennifer will assess the impact of traditional subsistence hunting on mammal communities in Manu National Park, Peru and explore both the direct effects on hunted species and indirect impacts on non-hunted wildlife and carnivores through prey depletion. Using camera traps and carnivore diet analysis, the team will examine changes in species distribution and prey selection and investigate indigenous perceptions of hunting and carnivores. This interdisciplinary approach aims to generate evidence for co-designing community-led strategies that mitigate biodiversity loss and human-wildlife conflict, while respecting and supporting indigenous rights, needs, and cultural practices.

Supported by Sir Charles Blois Bt.

Oli’s expedition was a collaborative investigation into how education policy shapes Adivasi identity, culture, and power. Working closely with collaborators from tribal communities, the expedition ethically documented students’ lived experiences within residential institutions.

Oli explored how residential schooling influences Adivasi identity, wellbeing and community relationships, and through collaborative, place-based documentation, examined the intersection of education policy, cultural continuity, and development, with a view to contributing to wider debates on governance and appropriate education models.

Supported by the family and friends of Elodie Sandford.

Iyan’s expedition to Adi Island in West Papua aimed to assess the population status of three plant species found only on the island. Adi Island is facing increasing threats from forest degradation and land conversion, putting its endemic species on the brink of extinction. Of the three known endemic species, one (Diospyros mollissima) is classified as Critically Endangered, while the conservation status of the other two (Diospyrosadiensis and Homalomena adiensis) remains unknown. To support their conservation, the expedition assessed current populations, collected plant material for ex situ conservation, updated their conservation status, and raised awareness amongst local communities and the broader public.

Supported by and in memory of Judith Heath.

The equatorial glaciers of the Rwenzori Mountains, on the Uganda-DRC border, are rapidly shrinking due to climate change. Rob's expedition will explore these mountains to examine the effects of climate change on the human and physical geography of the region, specifically glacier loss and increased elevation of habitat zones. It will be a narrative, focusing on the people of Uganda, and will document the glaciers’ retreat and its impact on the local communities who live and work there, specifically the Bakonjo people who serve as mountain guides in the region, before the ice disappears forever.

Supported by Neville Shulman CBE.

Catherine’s expedition will be the first ever to investigate environmental lead exposure across Southern Africa using apex predators as sentinel species. While lead poisoning is a known threat in other regions, its impact on African ecosystems and rural communities remains largely undocumented. This groundbreaking research will trace lead contamination through the bones and blood of cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, and jackals – some endangered species highly vulnerable to ingesting lead from hunter-discarded carcasses. By targeting key areas in Namibia and South Africa, including Kruger National Park, Lüderitz, and KwaZulu-Natal, Catherine aims to reveal hidden contamination hotspots. Her findings will provide the first comprehensive data of its kind, supporting a shift to non-lead ammunition and safeguarding both wildlife and human health across the region.

Supported by the O'Hea Charitable Trust

In the 1970s, Gorongosa National Park was Mozambique’s Serengeti – home to over 40 species of large mammals, numbering in the thousands. Since then, much has changed: poaching during the Mozambican civil war (1977–1992) eliminated 90% of the park’s large herbivores and nearly all predators. Remarkably, park managers restored herbivore abundance to pre-war levels and have now reintroduced predator species. Henry and the expedition team will journey to remote areas of the park to capture, GPS collar, and track antelope, studying their behaviour before and after predators were reintroduced. In collaboration with Mozambican scientists, veterinarians, and rangers, the team will leverage the park’s improbable history to study a foundational question in ecology: how do predators shape large herbivore communities in savannah ecosystems?

Supported by Rowan Bentall Charitable Trust, Coleridge Family, 
David Prichard and SES Trustees.

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 in South Africa and Borneo.

Award supported by SES, Raleigh alumni, members of the Raleigh UK Society (RUKS) and Raleigh International.

Elic's expedition was an archaeological expedition to the south coast of Guatemala. A joint team of American, Dutch, and Guatemalan archaeologists excavated an ancient Maya archaeological site to understand cultural exchange and influence from the Mexican city of Teotihuacan. Conservation of the site and its artefacts was critical because it was threatened by a palm oil plantation that, if expanded, could have destroyed it entirely.

Supported by Sir Charles Blois Bt.

Mirali's expedition set out to investigate vulnerabilities in the socio-ecological systems of Palawan. Its objectives were to highlight the overlooked impact of in-migration on ecosystem carrying capacity and to get an accurate abundance estimate for a small, Critically Endangered subpopulation of Irrawaddy dolphins. The research from this expedition will offer baseline data for informed decision-making and future conservation efforts amidst the fast-changing realities of in-migration, species movement, and climate shifts.

Supported by the family and friends of Elodie Sandford.

Fraser’s expedition in the remote and biodiverse region of Kapuas Hulu conducted the first extensive mapping of ornamental plant collecting sites, species habitats and rural nurseries, parallel with an e-commerce trade analysis. This unique approach enhanced the plant conservation and horticultural trade discourse by integrating indigenous and conservation science with a rigorous systemic assessment of species distribution in forests and semi-wild nurseries, including in-situ community conservation and sustainability assessments.

Supported by and in memory of Judith Heath.

Gerson's expedition explored the cloud forests of the Tropical Andes in Peru to search for the endemic and critically endangered yellow-tailed woolly monkey alongside local Andean communities.

Documenting the expedition was part of the communications campaign 'Stand-up for the Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey,' which aims to highlight the importance of this primate, promote the creation of new protected areas, and engage audiences at both local and national levels in conservation efforts.

Supported by Neville Shulman CBE.

Daniel's ambitious expedition aimed to transform healthcare in some of Zambia’s most isolated communities, using the Virtual Doctor's telemedicine application. Solar lanterns and chargers were distributed to ensure clinics can stay operational during frequent power outages.

The expedition also included a critical educational component, and the team delivered pre-hospital snakebite and trauma training programs for local healthcare providers.

Supported by the O'Hea Charitable Trust

Alyssa’s expedition will uncover how hummingbirds survive and thrive in an age of growing, human-driven scarcities. Working in collaboration with the local community, she and her international team of experts will use groundbreaking tools to reveal what truly makes these dazzling creatures “tick” in a world filled with fierce competition.

What does daily life look like for a hummingbird? Advanced technologies give us the chance to find out. By combining miniature accelerometers, Bluetooth trackers, specialized feeders, and high-resolution video, Alyssa’s team will capture the hidden stories of individual hummingbirds.

Supported by Rowan Bentall Charitable Trust, Coleridge Family, 
David Prichard and SES Trustees.

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 in South Africa and Costa Rica.

Award supported by SES, Raleigh alumni, members of the Raleigh UK Society (RUKS) and Raleigh International.

Sergio’s expedition was the first comprehensive scientific exploration of the Sinchimarka forest, an exceptionally well-preserved and remote high-altitude Andean Forest.

Supported by Sir Charles Blois Bt.

Reza's expedition explored the centre of the Bird’s Head New Guinea pristine forest, the western slope of Mts. South Tamrau Nature Reserve, an area that botanists or naturalists have never investigated. Reza photographed orchids and their habitat and preserved material for herbarium samples to write species descriptions and illustrations for his ‘Orchids of Bird's Head Peninsula’ book project.

Supported by the family and friends of Elodie Sandford.

Dewi’s expedition was in Teluk Sumbang, Berau, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, a remote and barely accessible area reported as a new habitat for Rafflesia. The team worked closely with local communities to enable knowledge-sharing initiatives. The expedition objectives were to confirm the Rafflesia species, investigate the population and ecological habitat, ethnobotany, and social data of the surrounding people, collect samples and specimens for further study, and conduct ex-situ conservation research on this species in Purwodadi Botanic Garden.

Supported by and in memory of Judith Heath.

Nat's expedition involved working with the Kayapo Indigenous communities of the Xingu River to train 28 young Kayapo youth community members in camera trapping techniques, wildlife photography and expedition filming, GPS mapping, drone surveillance and monitoring, and computer data analysis skills.

These technological skills were integrated with and supported by traditional ecological and cultural knowledge shared by five Kayapo elder field guides and were also captured on film or recorded alongside the monitoring data. This project aimed to enable the Kayapo communities to continue to defend their 10.5 million hectares of pristine Amazon rainforest from rampant deforestation, something they have done for generations.

Supported by Neville Shulman CBE.

Sarah’s expedition filled baseline knowledge gaps on population sizes and distribution of Cambodia’s endangered and heavily threatened cetacean species. During this 10-week expedition, local research assistants were  trained, and boat surveys conducted throughout the full coastline. Ultimately, findings will be used by resource managers to help shape effective management strategies.

Supported by Rowan Bentall Charitable Trust, Coleridge Family,
David Prichard and SES Trustees.

Voices of the Vezo was a participatory media project that empowered traditional Vezo fishing communities in Madagascar to share their stories and raise awareness about the challenges they face from climate change and biodiversity loss through community-led filmmaking. 

Amber spent two months in Madagascar, working with the NGO Blue Ventures and collaborating with youth groups from four different communities to help them create their own films, giving them a platform to voice their concerns and experiences.

Supported by Sir Charles Blois Bt.

Emi’s expedition was a collaboration between marine scientists, small-scale fishers, community elders, and young learners in fishing villages to document Ông Nam Hải, mysterious, adorned, and often collapsing temples along Vietnam’s coastline. Many “whale temples” were destroyed during the American (Vietnam) War. They registered the remaining temples through community-based participatory research approaches to enable the conservation of these spiritual ecological sites and Vietnam’s imperilled marine mammals.

Supported by the family and friends of Elodie Sandford.

Wendy’s expedition was a ‘first’ and explored and documented the heather plant family on Mount Kemiri, (the third highest summit in Sumatra), and its adjacent summits. It is an area with the most extensive subalpine vegetation in Sumatra, yet knowledge of the species and genetic diversity from this area is poorly known. Wendy’s objective was to find undocumented species new to science, and gather important data for the future conservation of this mountainous plant group.

Supported by and in memory of Judith Heath.

Ettore’s expedition explored Kerguelen, a wild and sub-Antarctic land. Despite being among the most remote places on earth, the Kerguelen islands suffer the impact of distant human actions. Ettore joined a scientific expedition to these islands and filmed a documentary about anthropogenic impacts, such as invasive species, plastic pollution, and climate change.

Supported by Neville Shulman CBE.

James’s expedition aimed to be the first scientific expedition to ascend the northern slopes of the Cyclops Mountains in Indonesian New Guinea. The expedition team collected biological and geological samples from the mountains and successfully rediscovered lost species, most notably, the enigmatic Attenborough's Long-beaked Echidna.

Supported by the Rowan Bentall Charitable Trust, Coleridge Family, David Pritchard, and SES Trustees.

Jody’s expedition worked with local and indigenous peoples in West Papua to investigate evidence of the continued presence of the 'lost species', the Wondiwoi Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus Mayri). Its presence could change the fate of this vulnerable region forever.

Supported by Sir Charles Blois Bt.

Charlie’s expedition was a 900-mile, self-supported winter trek along the frozen Lena River in Siberia. Skiing from Yakutsk to the Arctic coast at 72 degrees North, Charlie investigated the accelerating effects of climate change in northern Yakutia.

Supported by the family and friends of Elodie Sandford.

David’s expedition was a collaboration between Rwandan and UK doctors, to set up the first-ever resuscitation registry of cardiac arrests in Rwanda. This data is essential in understanding the causes of cardiac disease specific to Rwanda, and the first step in improving training, the recognition of deteriorating patients, protocols, and patient management, using evidence-based medicine.

Supported by Lord Gough.

Juniper’s expedition documented sweet potato landraces along Mt Wilhelm, one of the highest mountains in Oceania. Sweet potatoes are the staple crop in Papua New Guinea but little is known about their genetic and morphological diversity or how remote tribes source them.

Supported by and in memory of Judith Heath.

Beki's expedition followed explorer Mary Kingsley’s route through Gabon to look at the human cost of conservation in the Congo Basin. The 1000km journey was undertaken by sea kayak, pirogue and on foot through thick jungle along the routing Mary took in her 1899 expedition to demystify Africa.

Supported by Neville Shulman CBE.

Bethan’s expedition was an all-female collaboration between media-makers in the UK and indigenous leaders battling environmental destruction in the face of deep-rooted sexism and systematic discrimination. It researched, documented, and amplified the experiences of pioneering women, using a participatory approach for a lasting legacy.

Supported by the Rowan Bentall Charitable Trust, Coleridge Family, and SES Trustees.

Alegra's expedition objective was to undertake research for the first chapter in 'A Journey to the Origins of Midwifery,' an ethnographic atlas book exploring the origins and practices of traditional midwifery knowledge from specific geographical and bio-cultural locations around the world. This expedition focused on five Indigenous midwives from four different communities of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, in Colombia. 

Supported by Lord Gough.

Amy's expedition collaborated with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) to train local talents into conservation filmmakers, who will be offered job opportunities to produce stunning films to grow eco-tourism. Amy also documented the positive change happening at the Gishwati-Mukura National Park, an area that has grown from 1% forest coverage to a layer of deep green.

Supported by Neville Shulman CBE.

The purpose of Craig's expedition was to improve access to healthcare for locals, pilgrims, and alpinists residing, traveling, and climbing in the Garhwal Himalayas by training Indian nurses and doctors in mountain medicine and stationing them in remote hospitals in the Garhwal range.

Supported by the Rivers Foundation.

The main objective of Iris's expedition is to collect baseline biodiversity data in Badiar NP as well as forest fragments, that may act as crucial feline corridors between Badiar NP and Moyen-Bang NP. This will involve estimating the density of leopards and assessing the presence of West African lions (and other mammals).

Supported by the Rowan Bentall Charitable Trust, O’Hea Charitable Trust, Avocet Insurance Consultants, Egerton Sykes, Pam Coleridge and the Trustees of SES.

Ram headed to Arunachal Pradesh to team up with local filmmakers to begin a challenging and ambitious expedition into a biologically and culturally diverse land that traverses two biodiversity hotspots in search of stories with the aim of assisting conservation efforts. 

The resulting expedition film will follow the team as they create a database of innovative VR experiences that tell undocumented stories of Arunachal’s rich biodiversity and indigenous narratives, in the hope of inspiring conservation action from people responsible for the protection of this region.

Supported by Sir Charles Blois Bt.

Catherine's expedition to Timor-Leste focused on Tara Bandu as a means of marine conservation and coral reef health, at four established sites near the capital city of Dili, the geographic focus area. The objectives were to investigate Tara Bandu as a mechanism for marine conservation,  outreach to communities and students with 360-degree underwater imagery, and assess coral health at four
established sites.

Supported by the family and friends of Elodie Sandford.

Scott's expedition led team-mates Stephanie Wong, Dr Edward Rogers, and Dr Kim Findlay-Cooper to assist counter-poaching efforts in Zambia. 

The project saw the delivery of the first of many bespoke combat medical response train-the-trainer courses for wildlife rangers facing an increasingly dangerous task, alongside improvement in local community medical capability through the implementation of rapid diagnostics.

Supported by Lord Gough.

Reza's expedition started in Dakar, Senegal, and in Berbera, Somaliland. The impact of climate change and the ensuing desertification across eight countries across the Sahelian belt were documented. These countries are on the front line for climate change and temperatures are rising more than anywhere else on this Earth. By involving organisations, including the UN, Kew Gardens, and governmental agencies in various countries, Reza increased our understanding of the most neglected region on earth and documented the battle of man against our most urgent threat: climate change.

Supported by Neville Shulman CBE.

Charlotte's expedition took place in the South Toledo district of Belize in Central America. The expedition objective was to preserve the Qʼeqchiʼ and Mopan Maya language by creating reading books in Maya, and provide the school with educational resources; explore caves for evidence of ancient Maya habitation; educate the wider community of Augacate about their heritage and ancestors and educate the community about the importance of oral hygiene.

Supported by the Rivers Foundation.

Glaucia led a crew of eight women in an expedition to a remote area in the Amazon Forest to pay tribute to the explorer, Emilie Snethlage – the first woman to lead a scientific institution in South America. The expedition centered on one of the least explored areas of the Amazon Forest, the Juruá river; the only river not explored by Snethlage. Glaucia sought to honour Snethlage’s achievements by giving her Brazilian team of young women the opportunity to unravel the secrets of the Amazon Forest.

Supported by Sir Charles Blois Bt.

Eleanor led the Exploration Sira team to the mountainous and rugged terrain of El Sira Communal Reserve in Peru. The expedition aimed to ‘unveil indigenous stories and recover forgotten species’; furthering the limited knowledge of the hyper-diverse mammal community, the critically endangered Sira Curassow, the endangered climbing toad (Rhinella Nesiotes) and with the hope to rediscover the lost Sira Harlequin frog (not seen since 1970). This expedition revealed untold stories of the people living in and around the Sira and used photography to highlight their lives and cultures.

Supported by the family and friends of Elodie Sandford.

Merlin and fellow student Alex McMaster, embarked on a 10,000km journey through Africa on a tandem bike to bring ‘Arclight’, a revolutionary diagnostic device, into the hands of medical students and healthcare workers. The device has been described as a “game-changer” in the prevention of blindness and they hope to provide the next generation of doctors with the tools needed to help combat eye and ear disease.

Supported by Lord Gough.

Eilidh and teammates, Jenni and Bethan, set off on an ambitious filming expedition to create a documentary about a road being illegally built through the rainforest. By interviewing local communities and stakeholders and using drones to reveal the road’s scale and status, the film furthered our understanding of the threats and opportunities facing Manu and the potential consequences on its natural and cultural heritage.

Supported by Neville Shulman CBE.

Liv's expedition studied the last remaining populations of two endangered bird species. A critical aspect of this expedition was collaboration with local people to develop a long-term conservation plan. Liv also worked with the islanders to learn about how their indigenous knowledge of nature is expressed in their language and art, and about the value of cultural engagement with wildlife to successful conservation.

Supported by the Rivers Foundation.

Eleanor teamed up with drone pilot and filmmaker Chris Guggiari-Peel and ecologist Laura Kor to investigate the elusive titan beetle. Although little is known about this species, it is highly valued by collectors, and it is thought that this may advantage communities through ecotourism. The team collected data on this and the ecology of these insects, to raise awareness about the benefits and risks of invertebrate ecotourism.

Supported by the Rowan Bentall Charitable Trust, O’Hea Charitable Trust, Avocet Insurance Consultants, Egerton Sykes,  and the Trustees of SES.

Insight into the traditional and established protection practices of the intensely private communities, to process into longer term government marine protection plans. He also sought to improve and enhance relationships between these communities and the diving and tourist organisations within the region.

Supported by Cadogan Tate.

Measurements were taken from the Roslin Glacier which can be compared to estimates from satellite data, and against similar historic measurements taken in the 1970s. The unsupported team navigated the glacier system, often via unexplored valleys and unclimbed peaks to complete this valuable climate change research, and returned inspired by the adventure and keen to process the data to see quantifiable results.

Supported by Sir Charles Blois Bt.

His expedition to the Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda saw Alex combine his camera work with technology to carry out a first accurate estimate of numbers of big cats, and establishing a carnivore – farmer risk map to deliver to local authorities. Local students were trained in the techniques, and Alex sought to inspire the youth within Uganda through locally led initiatives.

Supported by family and friends of Elodie Sandford.

Anirban ventured deep into the jungle to observe, document and archive the complex and fascinating honey collecting process as part of capturing the traditional knowledge, culture and social systems for the communities themselves, researchers and policy makers.

Supported by Neville Shulman CBE.

Sought out inspirational Kenyans, who against all odds and in the face of adversity, civil unrest and poverty, have made it their mission to help conserve Kenya’s wildlife. They captured these remarkable stories in a series of short films, which they showed on the bicycle powered cinemas they have constructed to proudly share these critical and inspiring messages across Kenya.

Supported by the Rivers Foundation.

To reach, climb, and study the biodiversity surrounding this striking feature is the inspiration behind Martin's expedition, where he led a local team of climbers and scientists, all the while documenting their journey and raising awareness and empathy for the forests of Borneo and their plight.

Supported by the Rowan Bentall Charitable Trust, O’Hea Charitable Trust, Avocet Insurance Consultants, Egerton Sykes, and the Trustees of SES.

Andrew lead a team of Peruvian biologists and guides to set up 24 camera traps in the Cerros del Sira communal reserve in central Peru. The reserve consists of an isolated chain of foothills, separated from the Andean mountains by lowland tropical forest. Its flora and fauna is both unique and under-threat from local hunting and deforestation. The expedition enabled the team to gather information and aid in the discovery of previously unknown species of amphibians and reptiles.

Supported by Cadogan Tate.

Aida and her team travelled to the remote forest islands of northern Kenya desert, to collect plant, water and climatic data. This key data helped finalise her research project focused on the improved conservation of these fragile ecosystems. The team filmed their incredible journey, so that more people were able to learn about these beautiful ecosystems, and the amazing communities that live there.

Supported by Nevile Shulman CBE.

Stephen's MADEX project was a medical expedition to investigate the disease schistosomiasis in Marolambo. Stephen lead a team of medical students from Manchester, and Antananarivo universities and the Madagascar Ministry of Public Health, to study and record clinical and cultural evidence of the disease, treat the children affected, and initiate an educational programme to assist in managing it.

Supported by the Rivers Foundation.

Roshan lead a team of biologists and species experts to the Nijgadh region of Nepal, a remote and little studied region through which elephants migrate seasonally. The expedition team travelled 400km along elephant corridors, educating villagers along the way about the seasonal behaviour of the elephants with the aim of reducing human/elephant conflict.

Supported by the Rowan Bentall Charitable Trust, O’Hea Charitable Trust, Avocet Insurance Consultants, Egerton Sykes, and the Trustees of SES.

James led an expedition to the mountainous Avatra Dilana Marolambo region of Madagascar to study habitat fragmentation particularly the ‘forest edge’ habitat to assess the minimum fragment size which can support a healthy species, and provide research to assist conservation practitioners manage and prioritise the surviving rainforest in Madagascar.

Supported by Cadogan Tate.

Giulia's expedition took place in the remote and little studied Commander Islands off the Far Eastern coast of Russia. The team carried out marine surveys contributing to the Institute of Marine Biology at the Russian Academy of Sciences research into the state of the ecosystems, and to the ASC Marine Microplastics Project. They researched the impact of human activity in remote areas, thus highlighting the importance of natural heritage of remote locations and the exploration thereof.

Supported by Neville Shulman CBE.

John and colleagues from Aberdeen University studied the effects of westernisation on the indigenous Amerindian population. Two study groups were set up, one in urban locations where westernisation had had already impacted, and one in the interior ,where it has not. Physiological health risk factors, local attitudes to health care and body image perceptions in women were assessed.

Supported by the Rivers Foundation.

Unmesh headed up to the un-explored freshwater ecosystems of the rainforests of the Great Nicobar Archipelago in the Andaman Sea where he generated the first island fish diversity record, and by including indigenous tribal communities, developed stewardship and the future conservation of species found.

Supported by the Rowan Bentall Charitable Trust, O’Hea Charitable Trust, Avocet Insurance Consultants, Egerton Sykes, and the Trustees of SES.

Bertie headed to the West Coast of Vancouver Island to track down and film a pack of wild coastal wolves for 3 months during the breeding season. The wolves had never before been followed in such close proximity, or for such a prolonged time. 

Supported by Zenith.

Matthew led an expedition to the Mesomamerican Reef off Belize.  His passion for reef conservation led him to measure bio-diversity by mapping the species diversity across specific areas. The data provided the Marine Protected Area management to better account forthe ecological roles played by coral reef species, thus the environmental social and economic benefit of marine resources.

Supported by Cadogan Tate.

Olivia led the 2014 Cambridge Zanskar Expedition to Ladakh in the Indian Himalayas. The aim of the expedition was to study migration as a response to climate change (specifically acute water shortage) in a small village, living and working with the community to gain unique understanding of their way of life. The team then trekked out of the region via the rarely frequented Tsarab Valley route.

Supported by Cadogan Tate.

Alejandra led a small team to the Shawi tribe of North Eastern Peru, to establish two communal medicinal plant gardens. Wary of western medicines, and where both the knowledge about and existence of plants used in traditional medicines is decreasing, the aim of the expedition was to identify the plants used, document their medicinal properties, and establish gardens providing an ongoing and readily available fresh source of plants for future generations.

Supported by the Rivers Foundation.

In response to increasingly changing climate and rainfall patterns in Nepal, where short lived, intense rainy seasons have become the norm, Jamie worked with a small team based at Kathmandu University to set up measures of surface run-off in 3 different land-use areas. The results were analysed over two monsoon seasons, and used to run river flow models to predict water resource and flood risks.

Supported by the Rowan Bentall Charitable Trust.

Ryan led a 2-year study to establish the impact that the Gelada Monkey makes in the Ethiopian Highlands, whether they are a keystone species in the ecosystem, the results were crucial for, and updated conservation assessment of the species, and provided ecological information for development of conservation and restoration strategies in this increasingly degraded region.

Supported by SES Trustees.

Ed led the Haig-Thomas Expedition to the Arctic. Re-tracing the 1942 expedition by David Haig-Thomas, Ed and colleague Alec Greenwell carried out a comparative study of sustainable hunting practices in the Qaanaaq region, contributing to a University of Copenhagen ongoing ecological research project.

Supported by Zenith.

Amy led an expedition to Selin Cuo, a 4,500m plateau in Tibet. Studies included monitoring how the endangered black-necked crane and other wildlife within the region are responding to increasing levels of industrial disturbance to the wetland habitat. 

Supported by SES Trustees.

Rachel led a team to study 5 species of lemur and their habitat in Tampolo Forest, Madagascar and also undertake a sociological study of villagers to assess how they are adapting to increased exploitation of these areas. 

Supported by SES Trustees.

Augusta led a team to Mount Kailash in Tibet, carrying out a study of the role that material culture plays in connecting different cultures, races and religions to build a symbolic community and serve as a peace-making tool. 

Supported by SES Trustees.

David led an expedition to discover how the Afar people of Northern Ethiopia had endured the environmental and economic pressures. The findings showed how farming practices, water availability and cultural practice have adapted to these pressures. 

Supported by SES Trustees.