Episode fourteen, the final episode of our specialist series, Explore: How To Plan An Expedition, focuses on the future of exploration. This is actually a live recording taken in 2022 from the opening event for the RGS' annual expedition gathering, Explore, held each November. This is a panel discussion with Sophie Roberts, Oliver Steeds, Leo Houlding, and Dr Heidi Sevestre, on the topic of what it means to be an explorer in the 21st century. They talk about the myriad of global challenges facing exploration today, as well as the responsibilities and tasks facing travellers, adventurers and field scientists, and where they overlap or differ. They also discuss if there's anything left to explore (spoiler alert, there's a lot).

Sophie Roberts is an author and journalist who focuses on travel stories in remote parts of the world, with a special interest in literature and history. She is the author of 'The Lost Pianos Of Siberia'.

Oliver Steeds is an international investigative journalist and broadcaster. He also founded Nekton; a not-for-profit research institute which commits to scientific exploration and protection of the world's oceans.

Leo Houlding is a world-class rock climber, mountaineer and adventurer. He's arguably one of the greatest expedition climbers in history.

Dr Heidi Sevestre is a glaciologist, working at the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme and teaches at The University Centre in Svalbard. She is an avid science communicator and has led numerous field research expeditions from tropical glaciers to the depth of the polar regions. She also features in episode twelve of this series.

You can find out more about the Royal Geographical Society and access advice and support for field research and scientific expeditions by visiting www.rgs.org/in-the-field or follow them on @rgs_ibg on socials.

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