
Deadline: 14 February 2025
The Scientific Exploration Society (SES) has launched a new SES Explorer Awards Programme to grant individuals for scientific expeditions. Expeditions will often take place in the more inaccessible and remote regions of the world, and will aim to produce new scientific studies of the physical, social, economic, cultural or natural/environmental life of such regions or communities. The purpose is to advance knowledge of or research into: educational development; health and humanitarian support; medical aid and research; and environmental, cultural and social awareness and support of such regions. The grant amounts available range from £4,000 to £7,000.
Awards
There are six Explorer Awards available in 2025:
- Sir Charles Blois Explorer Award for Science and Adventure (£5,000)– Supports a scientific adventurer and trailblazer who is undertaking an adventurous expedition with strong physical requirements in a challenging environment. The expedition must aim to produce new scientific studies of the physical, social, economic and cultural life of communities, ideally in more remote regions of the world.
- Elodie Sandford Explorer Award for Amateur Photography (£4,000 to £7,000)– The applicant must be an amateur photographer who is undertaking an adventurous and innovative project. They must be able to demonstrate how their photography will be of real benefit to the people, environment, wildlife, fauna or flora targeted by the expedition.
- Judith Heath Explorer Award for Botany and Research (£5,250)- Supports an individual leading an expedition. The main focus of the expedition must be to carry out a scientific study of plants, ideally in more remote regions of the world.
- Neville Shulman Explorer Award for Expedition Filmmaking (£7,000)– This award has been created to support an expedition combining adventure and scientific purpose focusing on intangible and/or tangible heritage, ideally in more remote regions of the world. 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.
- O’Hea Explorer Award for Occupational and Environmental Health (£5,000)- Supports a research expedition that is focused on occupational and environmental health, or educational wellbeing and advancement in the field. The findings must benefit workers, students and/or community health, and leave a legacy, whether it be through policy and/or practice.
- SES Explorer Award for Inspirational and Scientific Trailblazing (£5,000)- The applicant should be an inspirational scientific trailblazer whose expedition is special in some way (in terms of the nature of the research, the legacy it offers or any other inspiring aspects of the expedition). This award may also support a scientific explorer who has previously received funding from SES for their project or expedition and who wishes to continue their research.
Eligibility
Awards are intended to provide financial support to individuals who have instigated and are leading their own expeditions. The exceptions to this are applicants for the Neville Shulman Explorer Award for Filmmaking and the Elodie Sandford Explorer Award for Amateur Photography; applicants need not be expedition leaders but should be actively involved in expedition planning and use their filmmaking/photography to communicate the expedition’s aims and objectives.
Expeditions should not start before 16 October 2025 and must be completed by 1 August 2026.
Funding
SES Explorer Awards are intended to provide a financial contribution to the overall cost of the fieldwork phase of scientific exploration. The amount varies according to the award.
How to apply
There is a two-stage application process consisting of a mandatory brief proposal (Stage 1) followed by a more detailed full application (Stage 2).
Additional information and previous awardees can be found here.