International Women’s Day: Celebrating Women in Exploration
International Women’s Day is a chance to celebrate the remarkable women expanding our understanding of the world through science, exploration and storytelling. Among them are the many women across National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions who play vital roles on board and ashore—guiding expeditions, advancing research and conservation, and helping bring extraordinary places to life for guests. Meet a few of the inspiring individuals behind these journeys, from the fleet’s first female captain to scientists working to combat plastic pollution.
Heidi Norling, Captain of the National Geographic Resolution
“I will always love the sea and I will always want to be close to the sea,” says Captain Heidi Norling, the first female captain aboard the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions blue water fleet. At the helm of the National Geographic Resolution, she deftly navigates the ice-laden waters of Antarctica, the Arctic and beyond to bring guests up close to spectacular wildlife and untamed landscapes. In this episode of In Good Company, Captain Norling discusses the unprecedented capabilities of the fleet's state-of-the-art polar ships and how they enable us to venture where few have ever explored.
Kelly Ferron, Naturalist
In order to truly understand a place like Southeast Alaska, it’s essential to explore with an expert by your side. “I think a naturalist really sparks curiosity by asking questions in a different way,” says Naturalist Kelly Ferron who sheds light on the science and ecology of the region while also unlocking some of its mysteries for guests aboard the small ships in the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions fleet.
Tati Besada, National Geographic Explorer and Co-founder of Unplastify
Nineteen million tons of plastic enter the ocean each year, ending up in some of the most remote places on Earth. As co-founder of Unplastify, National Geographic Explorer Agustina “Tati” Besada is working to be part of the solution. “Each of us can create change, not only in our own lives, but also we can make decisions that affect many other people and reduce the way we relate with plastics,” she says
In this Expedition Spotlight, Besada shares more about her ongoing mission to “unplastify” places like Galápagos by teaching students, educators and tourism suppliers to rethink consumption of single-use plastics and equipping them with the tools and resources needed to reduce plastic waste in their communities.
Erika Larsen, National Geographic Photographer
For National Geographic Photographer Erika Larsen, a key element of authentic expedition travel is entering a new place with an open mind and listening carefully. During a recent journey to Panama and Colombia, she shared how photography and storytelling can be an invaluable tool for communication and authentic connection—and how that connection is an integral part of sustainable travel.
Tiffany Pace, Grosvenor Teacher Fellow
Grosvenor Teacher Fellow Tiffany Pace, a STEAM elementary school teacher from Charleston, WV, traveled to the Galápagos on a life-changing expedition where she gained inspiration to share with her students. Watch as she talks more about her experience in the islands and why her encounter with the giant tortoises was such a significant part of the journey.
Zoey Greenberg, Naturalist
Naturalist Zoey Greenberg has dedicated her career to studying wildlife and sharing that knowledge with guests in some of the world’s most biologically rich places. With a background in ornithology focusing on birds of prey and migration, she brings both expertise and a deep passion to every voyage. On Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula—one of the places she returns to again and again—she offers travelers fresh perspectives on the landscape, guiding them beyond scarlet macaws in the canopy and humpback whales offshore to notice the smaller species that help the rainforest flourish. In this episode of Expedition Spotlight, Zoey highlights the extraordinary biodiversity that makes this corner of Costa Rica so remarkable.
Rachael Miller, National Geographic Explorer and Founder of the Rozalia Project
Rachael Miller, National Geographic Explorer and founder of the Rozalia Project, sails aboard the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions fleet studying microplastics in the ocean and air. Using Zodiacs and onboard Science Hubs, she collects and analyzes samples from expeditions around the world. In this video, follow her research aboard the Coastal Wonders of Norway, the Faroe Islands and Iceland voyage and learn how her discoveries are helping scientists better understand—and ultimately reduce—plastic pollution in the world’s waters.
