Education

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC STUDENT EXPEDITIONS INTRODUCES WASHINGTON, D.C., STUDENT SUMMIT

2009-11-16

WASHINGTON (Nov. 16, 2009)—National Geographic Student Expeditions is introducing National Geographic Student Summit, a series of weeklong programs in Washington, D.C., for middle and high school students and their teachers.

The Student Summit incorporates hands-on activities and dynamic educational content to help students better understand the world around them through inquiry, engagement and reporting — skills that have guided National Geographic explorers, photographers, writers and scientists over the years. Activities during the summit are organized into daily themes such as storytelling, conservation, geoliteracy, cultural heritage, exploration and stewardship. While activities are designed for all student groups, teachers may customize the program to meet the needs of their curriculum by choosing one of three areas of focus: science, social studies or journalism. The first Student Summit programs will take place from March through June 2010.

To make these programs possible, National Geographic has partnered with Putney Student Travel, a highly regarded organization that has offered quality educational travel experiences for high school students for more than 50 years.

"The National Geographic Student Summit is a unique, dynamic way to experience our nation's capital, while learning lifelong skills," said Lynn Cutter, National Geographic's senior vice president, travel and business development. "We're delighted to engage students from around the country in a program that exemplifies the spirit of exploration and discovery that has inspired National Geographic for more than a century."

During the Summit, students will step behind the scenes at National Geographic's headquarters and meet with editors, researchers, cartographers and explorers. They will explore Washington, D.C.'s many museums and monuments, as well as the centers of government, science centers, nonprofit foundations, news organizations and performance venues. Each trip also includes a community service component that allows students to put into practice the themes of stewardship and conservation that are central to National Geographic's mission. A sample itinerary can be viewed on the Student Summit Web site at www.ngstudentexpeditions.com/studentsummit.

In addition to the participation of National Geographic experts, highly trained expedition leaders will guide each field expedition and support every aspect of the experience — from providing stimulating on-site lessons and activities to managing logistics.

The Summits are only offered to school groups. Each of the weeklong programs begins on Sunday and ends the following Saturday. Teachers interested in organizing a student group to participate in spring 2010 should submit an application online at www.ngstudentexpeditions.com/studentsummit.

For more information on the National Geographic Student Summit, or to receive additional materials, call (877) 877-8759, email dcsummit@ngstudentexpeditions.com or visit www.ngstudentexpeditions.com/studentsummit.

In addition to the D.C. Student Summit, National Geographic's other travel programs include National Geographic Expeditions, National Geographic Student Expeditions and National Geographic Private Journeys, with expeditions to more than 60 destinations across all seven continents. These trips are accompanied by top National Geographic experts whose insider perspectives enrich each travel experience. All proceeds from National Geographic's travel programs support the Society's mission of increasing global understanding through exploration, geography, education and research. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 375 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com.

National Geographic Adventure Magazine Names 2009's Adventurers of the Year

2009-11-12

WASHINGTON (Nov. 12, 2009)--National Geographic Adventure magazine has selected 16 individuals as 2009's Adventurers of the Year, recognizing extraordinary achievements in exploration, conservation, action sports and humanitarian work. The honorees are featured in the December 2009/January 2010 "Best of Adventure" issue of the magazine (on newsstands Nov. 24). A robust and interactive Best of Adventure Web portal with more than 100 pages of content also highlights the 2009 Adventurer of the Year honorees with in-depth feature profiles, exhilarating videos and photo galleries. This year, for the first time, readers can cast a vote online for the honoree they believe best embodies the spirit of adventure. The winner will receive the first-ever "Adventurer of the Year: Readers' Choice Award." Voting, at www.ngadventure.com, begins today and ends Jan. 15, 2010. The Readers' Choice winner will be announced online on Jan. 19, 2010.

A group of 30 explorers, scientists, journalists and luminaries in the world of adventure served on an advisory board for the nomination of this year's top adventurers. The class of 2009 includes a BASE jumper, military veterans, an explorer, road trippers, a surfer, an astronaut, an ultra runner, an educator, a filmmaker and a scientist. They are:

-Khadija Bahram, supported by the aid organization International Rescue Committee, guided an educational program that stretches across five provinces in war-torn Afghanistan reaching more than 10,000 pupils, mostly girls, as well as disabled children.
-Stephen Bouey and Steven Shoppman crossed 69 countries and racked up more than 77,000 miles during a two-and-a-half-year road trip that circumnavigated the globe by road.
-Maya Gabeira, the only sponsored female big-wave surfer in the world, surfed the largest wave by a woman ever, landing a 45-footer at South Africa's Dungeons break.
-John Grunsfeld, known as NASA's "Hubble Repairman," braved hurtling space debris to pull off the repair to end all repairs: Working at zero gravity some 350 miles above the surface of the Earth, the astronaut restored sight to a half-blind Hubble.
-Marc Hoffmeister, an injured Iraq veteran, organized a team of climbers, including his wife, Gayle Hoffmeister, his friend, Bob Haines, and injured vets Jon Kuniholm, Matt Nyman and David Shebib, to attempt the dangerous West Buttress route of Denali in Alaska.
-Albert Yu-Min Lin organized a high-risk, high-stakes project into Mongolia's "Forbidden Zone" to search for the lost tomb of Genghis Kahn, using state-of-the art, cutting-edge mapping technologies.
-Dean Potter recorded the longest BASE jump ever -- 2 minutes and 50 seconds -- while wearing a wingsuit that allowed him to cover some 9,000 vertical feet and nearly four horizontal miles in distance.
-Louie Psihoyos assembled an "Ocean's 11"-esque crew to expose and end the annual slaughter of hundreds of dolphins for meat in Taiji, Japan, a story told in the award-winning film "The Cove."
-Diane Van Deren, survivor of a successful lobectomy, became the first and only woman to complete the Yukon Arctic Ultra, a 430-mile run across frozen tundra in the dead of winter.
-Katey Walter Anthony mounted an expedition to Siberia to seek out and measure beds of thawing permafrost -- a major source of methane gas, a greenhouse gas that is 25 times more potent than CO2, yet is not factored into most climate change models.

The National Geographic Adventure Adventurers of the Year feature is presented and sponsored by South African Tourism, South African Airways and Budweiser American Ale.

About National Geographic Adventure
National Geographic Adventure, winner of four National Magazine Awards, is the fastest-growing magazine in the outdoor category and the ultimate guide to the adventure lifestyle. Published eight times a year, with a rate base of 625,000, National Geographic Adventure has
2.8 million readers. It is available by subscription (800-NGS-LINE) and on newsstands in the United States ($4.99) and Canada ($6.99). Its editorial mission supports National Geographic's mission to inspire people to care about the planet. The magazine's Web site is www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure.

'GET LOST IN MAPPING: FIND YOUR PLACE IN THE WORLD' IS THEME OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHY AWARENESS WEEK: NOV. 15-21, 2009

2009-11-10

WASHINGTON (Nov. 10, 2009)—National Geographic invites students, teachers and parents to explore the world through mapping during Geography Awareness Week 2009, Nov. 15-21. Continuously celebrated since its founding in 1987 by Congress, this year's Geography Awareness Week features an online Blog-a-Thon, a series of local and national events and a new Web site (www.GeographyAwarenessWeek.org) that provides a broad range of opportunities for the public to get involved, including downloading a free National Geographic map of the world.

Geography Awareness Week 2009, with its theme of "Get Lost in Mapping: Find Your Place in the World," will kick off on Sunday, Nov. 15, with a national launch event at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and National Geographic President and CEO John Fahey will attend the third annual "World Ball Night" college basketball game that celebrates excellence in academics and athletics and spotlights the importance of geography and global knowledge.

This year's World Ball Night pits the men's basketball team of the Mason Patriots against Dartmouth's Big Green. Fans attending the event will view National Geographic's Giant Traveling Map of Asia, watch local kids play a half-time scrimmage with Mason's signature "world ball" basketballs (basketballs painted into globes), play global location quizzes based on spectacular satellite imagery from GeoEye and tour a map gallery showcasing maps made by local students.

The brainchild of Patriots head coach and geography enthusiast Jim Larranaga, World Ball Night is operated in collaboration with the George Mason geography department; it was awarded a bronze medal for single-day attendance by the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators in 2007 for attracting 8,000 fans.

"Education outreach is an important part of National Geographic's mission to inspire people to care about the planet," said Fahey. "Geography is a critical component of a 21st-century education, and the Society is committed to giving parents, educators and students the tools needed to help kids understand their world."

The Geography Awareness Week Web site offers students, teachers and the public access to games, activities and lessons about mapping. The site features contributions from National Geographic and partner organizations such as Google and ESRI. Visitors can learn about mapping at home and at school, as well as experiencing geospatial technologies and learning how to become "map activists." Visitors can explore maps of all sizes, from high-tech to low-tech, and can download a free poster-size National Geographic world map for the bedroom or living room wall. Google Earth tours offer virtual interactions with fascinating people and places, and engaging videos explain how today's geospatial revolution is changing everything from shipping to warfare.

The Web site also features opportunities to join nearly 100,000 geography supporters in becoming a "map activist." A new "GeoMentor" program pairs geospatial professionals with local teachers and students to support real-world learning in the classroom. Resources are also provided on how to host a local Geography Awareness Week event, including a list of the "Top 10 Ways to Celebrate Geography Awareness Week."

More than 35 bloggers from eight countries have joined a Geography Awareness Week Blog-a-Thon, which is updated multiple times daily with commentary and multimedia. The Blog-a-Thon also features a mystery location quiz, challenging visitors to identify satellite imagery for chances to win prizes.

The National Geographic Society, one of the sponsors of Geography Awareness Week, is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 375 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL AND NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SCHOOL PUBLISHING RESPOND TO U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IN ANTICIPATION OF H1N1 FLU CRISIS

2009-11-09

(Washington, D.C. - November 9, 2009) As the nation heeds the significance of President Obama's declaration of a national emergency to deal with the H1N1 flu, educators are bracing for the possibility of widespread impact on student learning as a result of the virus. National Geographic Channel (NGC) and National Geographic School Publishing (NGSP) are responding to the urgent call of U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to provide continuity of learning to keep students, sick or well, engaged in meaningful education activities if they are kept home during flu season. To help address the needs of students who will be impacted, NGC and NGSP today announced the launch of a special programming block and free education resources that will be made available during what is expected to be peak flu season.

Beginning November 16, NGC will air two-hour programming blocks from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET, weekdays, over a six-week period, as well as provide select programs available anytime online at www.natgeotv.com/education. All programs in this educational block will be complemented with free Web-based activity guides and resources provided by NGSP via a special "continuity of learning" portal, National Geographic Home Zone (www.NGSP.com/homezone). The G-rated programming will be culled from the network's award-winning specials and ongoing series, including Explorer, Naked Science and Wild Spaces, while the educational materials will be suitable for elementary, middle school and high school students, applicable to science, social studies and other disciplines. The intent is to provide students who are absent from school with opportunities to engage in a relevant learning experience.

Commenting on this announcement, John Fahey, president and CEO of National Geographic, said, "This effort underscores the commitment of National Geographic to partner with educators and parents, and is totally consistent with our mission of inspiring people to care about the planet. The National Geographic Channel and our school publishing unit are in a unique position to bring relevant learning resources into homes during the flu season. We hope students of all ages will both enjoy and benefit from the wonderfully engaging programs and related materials being offered."

National Geographic Channel is the only media company stepping up to provide specific resources to support this education initiative. Commenting on the activities, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said, "The H1N1 flu and the flu season in general may well impact the health and learning experience of millions of students. We appreciate the extraordinary measures that National Geographic has set in place to support the continuity of learning initiative. Efforts like these will help ameliorate the intensity of a potential crisis, and help ensure that the learning process continues."

National Geographic Channel
Based at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., the National Geographic Channel (NGC) is a joint venture between National Geographic Ventures (NGV) and Fox Cable Networks (FCN). Since launching in January 2001, NGC initially earned some of the fastest distribution growth in the history of cable and more recently the fastest ratings growth in television. The network celebrated its fifth anniversary in January 2006 with the launch of NGC HD, which provides the spectacular imagery that National Geographic is known for in stunning high-definition. NGC has carriage with all of the nation's major cable and satellite television providers, making it currently available in nearly 70 million homes. For more information, please visit www.natgeotv.com.

National Geographic School Publishing
National Geographic School Publishing provides quality PreK-12 instructional materials, including resources for emergent and early literacy, reading/language arts, ESL/ELD, science, social studies and content literacy development. Our National Geographic and Hampton-Brown brands include award-winning educational programs that deliver the high-interest content that you've come to know and expect from National Geographic. For more information, please visit ngsp.com.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SIGNS ON AS SPONSOR OF 9TH WORLD WILDERNESS CONGRESS AND WiLD SPEAK

2009-11-05

WASHINGTON (Nov. 5, 2009)--National Geographic announced today its sponsorship of WILD9, the 9th World Wilderness Congress, and the accompanying four-day conservation communications symposium, WiLD SPEAK. WiLD SPEAK, organized by the International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP), provides a forum for media professionals to discuss environmental issues and themes, share strategies and technologies, and explore how their work can raise awareness and realize conservation objectives. WiLD SPEAK will take place Nov. 9-12, 2009, during WILD9, which will run from Nov. 6-13 in Mérida, Mexico.

Throughout its 121-year history, National Geographic has encouraged conservation of natural resources and raised public awareness of the importance of natural places, the plants and wildlife that inhabit them and the environmental problems that threaten them. In the past four years, 54 articles in National Geographic magazine have been photographed by iLCP members. Photographers whose work has appeared in the magazine and who are scheduled to present at WiLD SPEAK include Michael Nichols, Brian Skerry, Paul Nicklen, Steve Winters, Tim Laman, Christian Ziegler, Frans Lanting, Jack Dykinga, Tom Peschak, Klaus Nigge and James Balog.

Tim Kelly, president of National Geographic Global Media and president/CEO of National Geographic Ventures, and Frank Biasi, director, conservation and special projects, National Geographic Maps, will speak at WILD9.

"We are excited to be part of WILD9 -- a vital forum that is closely aligned to our own mission to inspire people to care about the planet," said Kelly. "It speaks to our ongoing commitment to environmental storytelling across all of our media platforms. We constantly challenge ourselves to take these kinds of stories and find fresh ways to share them with our many audiences. It's an honor to have supported some of the conservation photography showcased at WILD9 and WiLD SPEAK, and we look forward to future collaborations with iLCP."

"This year's congress greatly expands our focus on the visual and written media professions as catalysts and influencers to raise awareness of environmental issues and on their role in achieving conservation outcomes," said WILD Foundation President Vance Martin. "National Geographic is an ideal sponsor of WILD9 by virtue of its commitment to conserving nature and traditional communities, and success in bringing issues, emotion and information to audiences regarding the beauty and fragility of our planet."

WILD9's principal theme is the key role that wilderness conservation plays in mitigating climate change and conserving biodiversity and other ecosystem services critical to human well-being.

Please send requests for images to media contacts below.

WILD9 is a partnership between The WILD Foundation and Unidos para la Conservación and relies on the support and participation of many partner organizations.

The National Geographic Society (www.nationalgeographic.com) The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. National Geographic reflects the world through its magazines, television programs, films, music and radio, books, DVDs, maps, exhibitions, live events, school publishing programs, interactive media and merchandise. National Geographic magazine, the Society's official journal, published in English and 32 local-language editions, is read by more than 35 million people each month. The National Geographic Channel reaches 310 million households in 34 languages in 165 countries. National Geographic Digital Media receives more than 13 million visitors a month. National Geographic has funded more than 9,200 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geography literacy.

iLCP (www.ilcp.com) Its mission is to further environmental and cultural conservation through ethical photography. iLCP is a project-driven organization, with a vision to translate conservation science into compelling visual messages targeted to specific audiences. iLCP works with leading scientists, policy makers, government leaders and conservation groups to produce the highest-quality documentary images of both the beauty and wonder of the natural world and the challenges facing it. From poaching to global warming, from habitat loss to cultural erosion, from sustainability to biological corridors, the work of conservation photographers covers the range of threats to biodiversity and is a critical component in the conservation toolbox.

The WILD Foundation (www.wild.org) Founded in 1974, WILD is the only international organization dedicated entirely and explicitly to wilderness protection around the world. WILD works to protect the planet's last wild places and the wildlife and people who depend upon them, because wilderness areas provide essential social, spiritual, biological and economic benefits. We believe that intact wilderness areas are an essential core element of a healthy modern society.

Unidos para la Conservación (www.unidosparalaconservacion.org) Founded in 1992, Unidos is a nonprofit Mexican conservation organization that has actively promoted the concept of wilderness conservation in Mexico. Its working strategy combines the establishment of alliances with government, nonprofit and corporate partners with the promotion of a conservation culture through publications and films in a search of conservation solutions through specific action.

THE JASON PROJECT LAUNCHES ENERGY CURRICULUM

2009-10-01

ASHBURN, Va. (Oct. 1, 2009)--A new science curriculum unit from The JASON Project is enabling students to explore one of society's most riveting and important issues -- energy -- in a new distribution format featuring print-on-demand and other solutions for 21st-century classrooms.

"Operation: Infinite Potential" is the third unit in JASON's new line of science curricula, following the award-winning ecology and weather units. Each unit fully integrates digital and print content into inquiry-based instruction. Using "Operation: Infinite Potential"'s research articles, hands-on labs, field assignments, videos, computer games and other multimedia, students work side-by-side with leading scientists to investigate and analyze emerging technologies designed to meet the needs of an energy-hungry planet.

For the first time, JASON is offering users the flexibility of free downloading and printing of all online Student and Teacher Editions in the new curriculum line. Individual chapters of PDF-formatted pages or the entire books may be printed in color or black and white. JASON is continuing to offer complete curriculum units, with all interactives and multimedia, free online. Print editions, including a DVD with up to two hours of video, are available for purchase.

"Teachers are faced with the need to become even more innovative, especially in these economic times, and JASON is helping them keep pace by providing world-class resources free online," said Caleb M. Schutz, president of The JASON Project. "This is important to educators, administrators and parents as well as our partners. Now every student, regardless of circumstances, has access to free science curriculum that is nationally recognized for excellence."

"Operation: Infinite Potential" was developed in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Shell, the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), and the National Geographic Society. The unit provides five to nine weeks of classroom material with suggested lesson plans, extensions, interdisciplinary connections and teacher resources.

"NOAA is pleased to be partnering with The JASON Project to introduce students and teachers to real-world examples of the science taught in this new science curriculum," said Louisa Koch, director of education for NOAA. "Space weather and tsunamis are exciting ways to learn about energy. NOAA's vision is 'an informed society that uses a comprehensive understanding of the role of the ocean, coasts and atmosphere in the global ecosystem to make the best social and economic decisions.' Our ongoing partnership with The JASON Project helps us make progress toward achieving that vision."

"Shell is very excited to partner with The JASON Project to provide such a powerful tool to teachers and students," said Serge Giacomo, head of Shell International Corporate Identity. "Today we are challenged with diminishing conventional oil and gas supplies, increasing demand for energy and growing levels of CO2. Shell recognizes that the 'Operation: Infinite Potential' project exemplifies the types of critical technologies that teachers and students must rely upon to help transition to a new energy future."

"For the United States to remain technologically competitive in the 21st century, it is essential that scientists and engineers team with educators to inspire youth, provide tools and materials for K-12 science and math programs, and create a learning environment that prepares today's students to be tomorrow's researchers," said NETL director Carl Bauer. "NETL is delighted to work with The JASON Project to meet these important goals."

"Oak Ridge National Laboratory's participation in the JASON energy curriculum unit was a tremendous success for everyone involved," said Thomas Zacharia, ORNL deputy laboratory director for science and technology. "'Operation: Infinite Potential' offers students a valuable and innovative educational experience. We look forward to working again soon with JASON and the other partners on this project."

JASON's digital and print resources are designed for grades 5-8 and used by teachers throughout K-12 for differentiated instruction or individual learning plans. All student resources are aligned to state science standards and designed for use with JASON's online assessment tools. When combined with teacher resources for lesson planning and classroom management -- and comprehensive professional development -- JASON provides a complete instructional solution that couples the power of digital learning with the ease-of-use of textbooks.

JASON's theory of education is based on lighting the spark of inspiration through sustained connections with "great explorers and great events" in rigorous curricula. Its new curriculum line -- launched in 2007 -- brings compelling scientists and cutting-edge research to life, and has garnered multiple awards:

-CODiE Award: Best Science Instructional Solution (2009) for "Operation: Resilient Planet," JASON's ecology unit, presented by the Software & Information Industry Association
-CODiE Finalist: Best Education Solution and Best Online Instructional Solution (2009) for "Operation: Resilient Planet"
-Distinguished Achievement Award in the category of Best Educational Toys and Games (2009) for "Operation: Resilient Planet" video game from the Association of Educational Publishers
-Award of Excellence (2008) for "Operation: Monster Storms" weather curriculum from Tech & Learning magazine
-CODiE Award: Best Online Instructional Solution (2008) for "Operation: Monster Storms"
-CODiE Finalist: Best Science Instructional Solution (2008) for "Operation: Monster Storms"

Visit www.jason.org to access JASON's free online science curricula.

About The JASON Project
A nonprofit subsidiary of National Geographic Society, JASON works with NOAA, NASA, the U.S. Department of Energy and other leading organizations to develop inquiry-based science curricula and professional development. JASON was founded in 1989 by Dr. Robert Ballard, the oceanographer and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence best known for his discovery of RMS Titanic and who today serves as JASON's chairman and chief scientist.

World Championship Media Advisory

2009-07-13

WHAT:
Teams of students from Canada, Poland and the United States have qualified for Wednesday's final round of the National Geographic World Championship being held in Mexico City this week. Alex Trebek, host of the U.S. television quiz show "Jeopardy!", will moderate the finals. A total of 15 teams took part in two preliminary activities on Sunday and Monday. Canada, Poland and the United States gained the highest scores in these earlier rounds.

WHEN:
Final Round
11 a.m. to noon CT (approx.)
Wednesday, July 15
Media may enter 10 a.m.

WHERE:
National Museum of Anthropology
Avenida Paseo de la Reforma
Chapultepec Park
Mexico City

NOTE: Up-to-date information about the competition will be posted in the National Geographic online press room at nationalgeographic.com/pressroom.
Photographs can be downloaded at FTP site: http://ftp.nationalgeographic.com/pressroom/ngwc/
User name: press
Password: press

EPK video of the National Geographic World Championship is available:

North American Distribution
Date:             Wednesday, July 15
Time:            1630-1645 ET
SAT:              AMC 3 C-band Domestic Analog
Trans:         08
U/L FREQ:    6085 H
D/L FREQ:    3860 V
Audio:          6.2 & 6.8 sub carriers

Europe & Asia Distribution
Via APTN Global Video Wire (GVW)

ESRI and National Geographic Society Announce GeoMentor Program

2009-07-13

REDLANDS, Calif.—The newly established GeoMentor program was jointly announced by ESRI and the National Geographic Society on Monday, July 13, during the plenary session of ESRI's 29th annual International User Conference in San Diego.

The program enlists people who use geographic information to help educators and students better understand its numerous applications. Because many jobs rely on geography to analyze conditions and make decisions, GeoMentors can come from a variety of professions, including police officers, social workers, taxi drivers, city planners, farmers and many others. The mentors "adopt" a classroom or afterschool program, helping both the teacher and students comprehend the many ways geography and geography information systems (GIS) can help us better understand the interrelatedness of objects and events in our world. Participants should have a good understanding of geographic concepts and how they can be applied in everyday life, and be willing to share their knowledge with local teachers and their students.

Daniel C. Edelson, vice president for education, National Geographic Society, said, "The rate of geographic literacy — meaning the number of people who can synthesize geographic information from a variety of sources and draw a sound conclusion — is abysmally low. This inability to grasp the fundamental concepts of geospatial orientation and analysis will have a profound impact on our ability to understand, analyze and implement sustainable solutions in the future. To help boost the numbers of geographically competent and pro¬ficient individuals, National Geographic and ESRI are teaming up on this GeoMentor program to pair those using geographic information in their work with teachers to bring a greater awareness of the use of geography into the classroom."

Charlie Fitzpatrick, ESRI's K-12 program manager, added, "This program is an exciting addition to our educational efforts here at ESRI, particularly because of the opportunity to join forces with the National Geographic Society. Since ESRI deals with many thousands of practitioners of geography, and NGS deals with many thousands of educators, this unique collaboration between GIS users and educators could help many youth see the patterns and relationships in the world around them, allowing them to understand the interactions of the world more clearly and make decisions about matters large and small with a better grasp of the inherent impacts."

The GeoMentor web site has tools for pairing mentors with educators, finding activities, acquiring resources and sharing stories. Additional details can be found at www.geomentor.org.

About National Geographic
The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 370 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and four other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; radio programs; films; books; DVDs; maps; and interactive media. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com.

About ESRI
Since 1969, ESRI has been giving customers around the world the power to think and plan geographically. The market leader in GIS, ESRI software is used in more than 300,000 organizations worldwide including each of the 200 largest cities in the United States, most national governments, more than two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies, and more than 7,000 colleges and universities. ESRI applications, running on more than one million desktops and thousands of Web and enterprise servers, provide the backbone for the world's mapping and spatial analysis. ESRI is the only vendor that provides complete technical solutions for desktop, mobile, server, and Internet platforms. Visit us at www.esri.com.

ESRI, the ESRI globe logo, GIS by ESRI, www.esri.com, and @esri.com are trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of ESRI in the United States, the European Community or certain other jurisdictions. Other companies and products mentioned herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective trademark owners.

BRIGHTEST GEOGRAPHY WHIZ KIDS FROM 15 REGIONS TO COMPETE FOR INTERNATIONAL GEOGRAPHY TITLE IN MEXICO IN JULY

2009-06-29

WASHINGTON (June 29, 2009)--Fifteen teams of the brightest geography students from around the globe will meet in Mexico City July 11-16, 2009, to take part in the ninth National Geographic World Championship. The presenting sponsor of the international contest, organized by the National Geographic Society, is Telmex Foundation, with supporting sponsorship from the Mexican Academy of Sciences, CONACYT, JW Marriott Mexico City and Televisa Foundation.

Each team will comprise three students who excelled in their national geography competition. The teams will meet to answer questions on physical, cultural and economic geography in two levels of competition. Current world champion Mexico will defend its title against teams from Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The students will arrive in Mexico City on July 11. The teams will take a written test on July 12 and explore some of the historic areas of Mexico City; the following day, they will battle each other in a challenging hands-on activity in the morning and visit the ancient city of Teotihuacan that afternoon. On July 14 they will explore Chapultepec Park, one of the largest urban parks in the world, and the nearby museums. The three teams with the highest scores from the written test and geography activity will meet at the National Museum of Anthropology and History for the championship finals on July 15. They will answer questions in a game-show format, moderated by Alex Trebek, host of the popular U.S. television quiz show "Jeopardy!".

The National Geographic World Championship takes place every two years. The first contest, held in London in 1993, was won by the United States, which beat teams from the United Kingdom and Russia. The Australians, competing against four other teams, won the 1995 competition at Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. The third championship, held in 1997 in Washington, D.C., was won by Canada, which bested teams from eight other regions. The fourth competition, held in Toronto, in 1999, was won by the United States, which also won the 2001 contest in Vancouver, the 2003 contest at Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay, Fla., and the 2005 contest in Budapest, Hungary. The 2007 competition at SeaWorld, San Diego, was won by Mexico.

"Promoting knowledge of our world, its cultures and the environment is at the heart of the mission of the National Geographic Society," said John Fahey, Society president and CEO. "The National Geographic World Championship provides a forum for top geography students from all corners of the globe to compete and to determine which team is the international geography champion. By participating in their region's competition and advancing to the international level, each student learns so much about our planet and becomes a better global citizen for the experience."

Arturo Elías Ayub, CEO of Telmex Foundation, said, "At Telmex Foundation we are convinced that the best tool to fight poverty, to ensure a more just society and to guarantee a better future for Mexico's youth is education. Therefore, we are proud to support this ninth National Geographic World Championship, because it motivates the young participants to learn more about and expand their vision of the marvelous world that surrounds us and to appreciate its wealth and diversity. The team members also will have the priceless experience of establishing relationships with other cultures, from which, undoubtedly, we all have many things to learn."

The National Geographic Society developed the National Geographic Bee in 1989 and the National Geographic World Championship in 1993 in response to concern about the lack of geographic knowledge among young people in the United States. And the problem is not yet resolved: The National Geographic-Roper Public Affairs 2006 Geographic Literacy Study showed that Americans aged 18 to 24 still have limited understanding of the world within and beyond their country's borders. Even after Hurricane Katrina, one-third could not locate Louisiana and almost half could not locate Mississippi on a U.S. map. Only four out of 10 were able to find Iraq on a map of the Middle East.

More information about the National Geographic World Championship is available at www.nationalgeographic.com/worldchampionship.

About National Geographic
The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 360 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and four other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; radio programs; films; books; DVDs; maps; and interactive media. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.

About Telmex Foundation
In 1996 Telmex Foundation initiated activities to help solve problems that affect social development in Mexico and to support victims of natural disasters in Mexico and other Latin American countries. In order to carry out this mission, Telmex Foundation works in seven core areas: Education, Health, Nutrition, Justice, Culture, Human Development and Support in Natural Disasters.

With permanent programs designed and focused on these core guidelines, Telmex Foundation confirms each day its commitment to building a Mexico that offers better living standards to its people and allows its inhabitants to build a better future for themselves, their families and their communities, for the benefit of the country.

NOTE: Up-to-date information about the competition will be posted in the National Geographic online press room at nationalgeographic.com/pressroom.

Photographs can be downloaded throughout the week of July 11-16 at FTP site: http://ftp.nationalgeographic.com/pressroom/ngwc/
User name: press
Password: press

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CONTRIBUTES RICH CONTENT TO MAPS101

2009-06-25

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (June 25, 2009)--Through a new alliance, Maps101, the leading online social studies teaching resource, will now offer compelling National Geographic content, including maps and video footage.

Beginning this month, Maps101 subscribers -- K-12 schools throughout the United States -- can access the National Geographic Collection that includes video footage, archival maps and exclusive activities. The alliance further enriches Maps101's current offerings of thousands of engaging and interactive features for social studies, including history, geography and earth sciences.

"At a time when school budgets are stretched thin, Maps101 is offering more content than ever before," said John Serpa, CEO of Maps101. "The National Geographic brand is synonymous with some of the world's most inspiring maps and imagery and accurate content, and its maps and video footage are a great addition for our subscribers."

Maps101 continues to develop new content in-house, including ever popular animated timelines, educational games and activities and Geography in the News. National Geographic short videos will cover a variety of issues from wildlife to political situations and other topical events. Also available to Maps101 subscribers is a collection of historical maps from the National Geographic archives, including maps of the world, continents, countries, space and more.

"We have acquired content from National Geographic that not only complements our current offerings, but strengthens Maps101 in less geography-centric subjects such as earth sciences," added Serpa. "We are delighted to offer teachers across the curriculum some of the highest-quality learning materials available."

"Maps101 is a clear leader in bringing quality content to the classroom. We view this as an opportunity to further extend the reach of National Geographic maps content in schools," said Charlie Regan, vice president and general manager, National Geographic Maps. "Our assets will significantly enhance the Maps101 experience."

Teachers, librarians, students and parents can gain access to the new material using their school's unique Maps101 login. As with all content on the site, where appropriate, content can be projected, downloaded or printed. Unlimited access is provided to teachers, pupils and parents from any Internet-connected computer. Trial subscriptions are available free of charge from the Maps101 Web site.

For more information or for a free trial of Maps101 for review, contact Stephanie Jensen at (805) 685-3100 ext. 108 or email stephanie@maps.com.

About Maps101
Formed in 1998 as a division of Maps.com, Maps101 gives the K-12 teacher a unique online resource for engaging, interactive, social studies content at a cost of only pennies per student. This dynamic online resource saves time by providing teachers with comprehensive, geography-centric lesson plans, maps, educational games and support materials.

About National Geographic
The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 360 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ALL ROADS FILM PROJECT FORMS PARTNERSHIPS FOR AMERICAN INDIAN SUMMER INSTITUTE

2009-05-11

WASHINGTON (May 11, 2009)—The National Geographic All Roads Film Project; Native Media and Technology Network (NMTN); Indigenous Language Institute (ILI); Fox Entertainment Group; Naninaaq Productions; and Community Prophets, Australia, are partnering to develop a series of professional workshops and training opportunities for Native students at the eighth annual American Indian Summer Institute (AISI). The first partnership training will take place July 12-18, 2009, at the University of California, Los Angeles, campus. Participants will be accepted via nomination from the member organizations.

AISI was founded in 2002 with the guidance of Southern California Indian Center, which was instrumental in the recruitment and participation of the Southern California tribes. In addition, NMTN joined with Fox to help orchestrate a national outreach effort, drawing participants from across the United States.

"Our affiliation with All Roads and National Geographic Society has provided the training program to go global," said Gerald Alcantar, vice president of diversity development at Fox.

"This focus on a global indigenous collaboration to increase Native American and indigenous peoples' access and participation in the media and entertainment industry can only expand media-related employment and business opportunities for under-represented communities," said Syd Beane, Flandreau Santee Sioux tribal member and national coordinator of NMTN.

According to UNESCO's "Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger," more than 2,500 languages are in danger of dying — with the United States ranking second only to India with the highest number of diminishing languages. This new partnership aims to address the problem by giving American Indian students nationwide an opportunity to explore and experience media incorporating their native languages, train them in mixed media with new global indigenous perspectives and provide a global platform of opportunities to showcase their work.

"Like ILI, National Geographic is concerned with the urgency to record diminishing languages and the need to assist communities worldwide in the documentation process of these languages, in order to have them accessible to younger generations to revitalize. Currently in its sixth year, the All Roads Film Project has the global platforms and resources to bring cultural exchanges of creative storytelling in film and media to the American Indian Summer Institute," said Francene Blythe, of Diné, Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota and Eastern Band Cherokee heritage and director of the National Geographic All Roads Film Project. "This partnership will bring together five dynamic organizations that can pool their resources to broaden the reach of indigenous voices from Native America and bring them out to the world."

"Indigenous Language Institute is excited about the positive impact that our partnership can achieve for Native peoples in revitalizing culture and language," said Inée Slaughter, executive director of ILI. "By providing indigenous people training in ILI's technology tools to document their languages, history, stories and songs and to create vibrant language materials, we can ensure that the endangered languages will have a deservedly distinguished presence and permanence in the global community."

AISI will feature Native American and international indigenous industry luminaries, who will examine creative storytelling through media, provide a cultural exchange of indigenous perspectives on story, community and self-identity, and provide mentoring on technical aspects of mixed media. Additional workshops are planned for 2010.

A showcase of All Roads international films will wrap up the week's training on Saturday, July 18, at the James Bridges Theatre at the University of California, Los Angeles, campus. For a full screening schedule and to purchase tickets, visit nationalgeographic.com/allroads.

About the All Roads Film Project
The All Roads Film Project is a National Geographic program dedicated to providing a platform for indigenous and under-represented minority-culture storytellers around the world to showcase their works, in film and photography, to promote knowledge, dialogue, and understanding with a broader, global audience. In addition to providing a venue for their films, All Roads offers its filmmakers and photographers a series of networking opportunities and awards a minimum of 10 seed grants a year to support the development and production of film and video projects by or about indigenous and under-represented minority-culture communities. Seed grant recipients are considered for inclusion in other National Geographic-affiliated broadcast outlets. The All Roads Photography Program provides photographers with award money, cameras and photography equipment to assist with their fieldwork.

About the Native Media and Technology Network
NMTN works through its affiliated organizations to provide media training, production and distribution assistance to Native film-makers and their communities. These groups have included among others: Southern California Indian Centers Intertribal Entertainment Program based in Fountain Valley, Calif., Native American Public Telecommunications headquartered in Lincoln, Neb., Migizi Communications located in Minneapolis, Minn., Native American Community Development Institute in Minneapolis, Minn., Sound of American Records (SOAR) of Albuquerque, N.M., Banner/Caswell Productions in Santa Monica, Calif., and the Oglala Lakota College Film Program on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. The Oneida Nation of New York Four Directions Media Company, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians from Portland, Ore., Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians of Southern California and the Pacific Islanders in Communications in Honolulu, Hawaii, have also partnered with NMTN and Fox Entertainment Group during the American Indian Summer Institute in Los Angeles.

About the Indigenous Language Institute
The Indigenous Language Institute provides vital language-related services to Native communities so that their individual identities, traditional wisdom and values are passed on in the original languages to future generations while the Elder Speakers are still with us. ILI acts on this mission by researching best practices in language acquisition and using this research to teach communities how to create Native language media that will increase the use and presence of their languages in everyday life. Communications and multimedia technology is a powerful tool that helps document, preserve and revitalize the endangered indigenous languages for the future. ILI's technology workshops are designed for beginners to advanced computer users. The training fosters intergenerational collaboration to create print and audiovisual materials that document language and rich content such as history, memories, songs and traditional tales. With technology tools, the cultural information, the elders' voices and the language can be shared over time and distance. This empowerment will help build a critical mass of materials to surround children, families and communities with the language. Workshops are offered monthly at ILI headquarters in Santa Fe, N.M., as well as at tribal sites regionally.

About Naninaaq Productions
Naninaaq Productions is an Indigenous media production and training company that creates documentary and drama and fosters young creative minds by facilitating training and mentorship opportunities. The program for Indigenous and at-risk youth in Alaska and Australia focuses on honoring traditional storytelling by promoting new voices in contemporary media. Naninaaq Productions is currently in the process of establishing the first media hub and interactive Indigenous Network on the North Slope of Alaska.

About Community Prophets
Community Prophets is a social justice media agency specializing in long-term training, employment and production partnerships with Indigenous and at-risk youth and their communities. Producing broadcast television series, cross-platform interactive online dramas, documentaries and hundreds of youth training films for over a decade in Australia, Community Prophets has recently partnered with Indigenous training and production house Naninaaq Productions in Alaska to focus on building community-owned and -operated media centers.

JASON SCIENCE CURRICULUM EARNS 2009 CODIE AWARD

2009-05-07

ASHBURN, Va. (May 7, 2009)--The JASON Project has captured its second major educational award of 2009, winning a coveted Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) CODiE for excellence and vision in educational technology and digital content.

Operation: Resilient Planet, JASON's multimedia ecology curriculum, was named Best Science Instructional Solution by a nationwide group of educators, technology specialists and journalists. They also selected the unit as a finalist in the categories of Best Education Solution and Best Online Instructional Solution.

JASON is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Geographic Society.

"We are delighted with this latest recognition," said Caleb M. Schutz, president of The JASON Project. "Our goal is to deliver a 21st-century educational solution for students and teachers everywhere, and this important award helps validate our progress."

Earlier this year Operation: Resilient Planet garnered a Distinguished Achievement Award from the Association of Educational Publishers. The unit's video game is a finalist in the category of Best Educational Toys and Games, with the winner to be announced in June.

The latest award signals a strong endorsement of JASON's new curriculum line, which launched in September 2007 with the release of the Operation: Monster Storms weather unit and was followed by the ecology unit last summer.

Technology & Learning magazine bestowed its Award of Excellence on Operation: Monster Storms in 2008 for "breaking new ground and demonstrating clear superiority over similar products in the market."

The weather unit also won a 2008 CODiE for Best Online Instructional Solution and was named a 2008 finalist for Best Science Instructional Solution.

JASON is in final development of an energy unit, Operation: Infinite Potential, scheduled for release this summer and developed in collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, National Energy Technology Laboratory, the U.S. Department of Energy, Shell International, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Geographic Society.

About The JASON Project
JASON is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Geographic Society. Since 1989, JASON has worked with leading scientific institutions and other organizations to develop inquiry-based science curricula and professional development. JASON was founded by Dr. Robert Ballard, the oceanographer and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence who discovered the shipwreck of RMS Titanic and who today serves as JASON's chairman and chief scientist. For more information, visit www.jason.org.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS MAGAZINE SELECTS 17 HANDS-ON EXPLORERS FOR EXPEDITION TO PERU

2009-04-30

WASHINGTON (April 30, 2009)--Fifteen kids ages 10-14, who have demonstrated a passion for exploring, have been selected as members of the fourth annual National Geographic Kids Hands-On Explorer Challenge Expedition Team. The expedition to Peru, which also includes two teachers, is scheduled for May 23-June 3, 2009. To be considered for the Expedition Team, kids were asked to submit an essay of 300 words or less and a photograph they took themselves that told how they actively explore their world and the most exciting and/or inspiring things they have found in it. The winners include a musician who explores the world through Mother Nature's melodies; a kid who learns about world cultures through food and trade routes; an avid rock climber inspired by the ease with which lizards navigate the most difficult routes; young fossil hunters; and budding herpetologists and ornithologists. To see the winning photographs and excerpts from the essays, go to kids.nationalgeographic.com.

The winning kids are Lucy Anderson, 11, of Wellesley, Mass.; Laura Beth Andrews, 14, of Sioux Falls, S.D.; Ian Baer, 12, of Spokane, Wash.; Rebecca Buxbaum, 12, of Lansdowne, Pa.; Rachel Day, 12, of Phoenix, Ariz.; Lijah Hanley, 13, of Cumming, Ga.; Wyatt Jordan, 10, of Briggsdale, Colo.; Nellie Kassebaum, 12, of Burdick, Kan.; Grace Kennedy, 12, of Castle Rock, Colo.; Peter Meehan, 14, of White Hall, Md.; Elliot Schoenig, 13, of Davis, Calif.; Dewey Sheehan, 13, of Pembroke, Maine; Grace Tredinnick, 14, of Wapwallopen, Pa.; McKenna Tucker, 14, of Eads, Tenn.; and Cady van Assendelft, 11, of Staunton, Va.

The winning teachers are Sharon Andrews, a fifth-grade teacher in Sioux Falls, S.D., and Carissa Lloyd, a sixth-grade teacher in Hollywood, Fla.

The Expedition Team will travel on a 12-day expedition to Peru, courtesy of PromPeru, Apotur, LAN Airlines and selected hotels and service providers. As part of their prize, all explorers will be equipped and outfitted with expedition essentials: a D60 digital SLR camera to document their journey with stunning photographs, courtesy of Nikon®, and rugged yet versatile Columbia Omni-Shade sun-protective shirts and tees, hiking pants that can be converted into shorts, a colorful wind- and rain-resistant jacket and wide-brimmed hat, courtesy of outdoor apparel sponsor Columbia.

Highlights of the expedition include exploring the ruins of Machu Picchu, voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World; visiting Tambopata Reserve deep in the Peruvian rain forest, where the team will have the opportunity to help in a research laboratory; touring the elegant colonial architecture, vibrant modernism and traces of pre-Inca and Inca civilizations in the capital city of Lima; learning about Peruvian culture and ancestral Inca rituals and customs; seeing and experiencing how local people still use ancestral methods for daily activities like weaving and cooking; and spotting wildlife such as giant river otters, caimans and tropical birds.

Throughout the expedition, the Hands-On Explorers will receive tips from National Geographic and local experts on how to capture this fieldtrip-of-a-lifetime and new discoveries in pictures and words. Accompanying the winners on the trip will be National Geographic personality Boyd Matson, host of the radio program "National Geographic Weekend," National Geographic Kids science editor Catherine Hughes and National Geographic photographers Amy Toensing and Bruce Dale.

The six boys and nine girls were chosen from thousands of entries nationwide. A panel of National Geographic experts selected kids whose essays and photographs expressed the most interest in and passion for exploring, while adhering to the judging criteria. Each young winner will be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

For the Teacher Challenge, educators were asked to conduct a hands-on activity related to Peru in an innovative manner that actively engaged students, and to write an original essay of 500 words or less describing what best practices were used to increase students' knowledge and appreciation of the geography of Peru.

"Daring readers to explore, National Geographic Kids magazine aims to excite kids about their world," said National Geographic Kids Editor in Chief Melina Bellows. "The National Geographic Society has a long tradition of identifying and supporting explorers early in their research, and I can see no greater opportunity than the Hands-On Explorer Challenge to seed the next generation of explorers. The expedition to Peru provides an unmatched hands-on learning environment that continues our mission of inspiring people to care about the planet."

"Peru is excited to host the winners of the National Geographic Kids Hands-On Explorer Challenge. This unique program will offer young explorers the opportunity to discover Peru's many archaeological and natural wonders, including some of the 10 UNESCO World Heritage sites," said Mara Seminario, PromPeru's tourism director. "As one of the most diverse and family-friendly countries in South America, Peru combines a wealth of exciting adventure activities for youth across its varied landscape -- from the Andean mountains and Amazon rain forest to the desert and vibrant coastal regions -- with rich educational experiences exploring Peru's ancient history, cultural traditions and award-winning cuisine."

"Columbia Sportswear salutes the 15 National Geographic Kids who have been chosen to participate in this expedition to Peru. We're thrilled to be outfitting these young adventurers with Columbia apparel that is perfectly suited for the diverse outdoor activities and climates they will be facing," said Mandy Rutkowski, senior manager of promotions, Columbia Sportswear. "We are confident that the members of the expedition will enjoy their travels more comfortably and safely with Columbia's Omni-Shade collection of sun-protective shirts, pants and hats."

NOTE: Hi-res photos of winners and their entries are available:
http://ftp.nationalgeographic.com/pressroom/hoec
Login: press
Password: press
Or contact photo editor Kate Baylor, kbaylor@ngs.org

About National Geographic Kids Magazine
National Geographic Kids, a multitopic, photo-driven magazine for 6- to 14-year-olds, empowers its readers by making it fun to learn about the world. It has received numerous industry awards, including the Periodical of the Year award in 2005 and 2006 from the Association of Educational Publishers. Published 10 times a year, National Geographic Kids has a circulation of 1.2 million and is available by subscription for $19.95 a year and on newsstands for $4.99 a copy. Its Web site is at kids.nationalgeographic.com.

About PromPeru
Peru Export and Tourism Promotion is the public entity in charge of recommending, directing, evaluating and implementing policies and strategies to promote domestic and international tourism as well as marketing the image of Peru for both tourism promotion and exports. For more information on Peru, visit www.peru.info.

About Apotur
Apotur (www.apoturperu.org) -- Peruvian Association of Incoming Tour Operators -- founded in 1987, is a nonprofit organization conformed by the most important and experienced Peruvian Tour Operators; 45 companies that together receive and assist around 80% of the organized travel to Peru.

About Columbia Sportswear Company
Founded in 1938 in Portland, Ore., Columbia Sportswear Company is a global leader in the design, sourcing, marketing and distribution of active outdoor apparel and footwear. As one of the largest outerwear manufacturers in the world and a leading seller of skiwear in the United States, the company has developed an international reputation for quality, performance, functionality and value. The company manages a portfolio of outdoor brands, including Columbia Sportswear, Montrail, Mountain Hardwear, Pacific Trail and Sorel. To learn more about Columbia, please visit the company's website at http://www.columbia.com.
Columbia's sportswear includes a wide variety of styles with UPF-30 and greater sun protection and is endorsed by the Skin Cancer Foundation. In addition, Columbia Sportswear offers a set of curricula for kids and their teachers with tips on how to stay safe in the sun while enjoying outdoor adventures at http://www.columbia.com/rays-awareness.aspx.

About Nikon
Nikon, At the Heart of the Image™. Nikon Inc. is the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology and is globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for its award-winning consumer and professional photographic equipment. Nikon Inc. distributes consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, NIKKOR optics, Speedlights and system accessories; Nikon COOLPIX® compact digital cameras; COOLSCAN® digital film scanners; 35mm film SLR cameras; Nikon software products and Nikon sports and recreational optics. For the second consecutive year, Nikon D Series digital SLR cameras are recognized as "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with digital SLR cameras, Two Years in a Row, Tied in 2008." according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 and 2008 Digital Camera Usage and Satisfaction StudiesSM. Nikon Corporation, the parent company of Nikon Inc., recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of its legendary F-mount lens-mounting system. Only Nikon has sustained an original lens mount for such an extraordinary period, ensuring that photographers can continue to leverage their previous investments while still taking advantage of new innovations. For more information, dial (800) NIKON-UX or visit http://www.nikonusa.com, which links all levels of photographers to the Web's most comprehensive photo learning and sharing communities.

About LAN Airlines
LAN Airlines is one of the leading passenger airlines in Latin America. The company and its affiliates serve over 65 destinations around the world through an extensive network that offers full connectivity within Latin America, while also linking the region with North America, Europe and the South Pacific, as well as 63 additional international destinations through its various alliances. LAN Airlines and its affiliates have a leading position in their respective domestic markets of Chile and Peru as well as an important presence in the Argentinean domestic market.
Currently, LAN Airlines and its affiliates operate one of the most modern fleets in the world, with 84 passenger aircraft, and its cargo subsidiary, LAN CARGO and its respective cargo affiliates, own 9 dedicated freighters. The company recently completed its short haul fleet renovation process by acquiring new aircraft from the Airbus A320 family, enabling LAN to improve its efficiency and to reduce significantly its CO2 emissions. The fleet renovation is part of the company's commitment to the protection of the environment.
LAN is one of the few Investment Grade airlines in the world (BBB). The company's world-class quality standards enabled its membership in oneworld™, the global alliance that encompasses the best airlines in the world. For more information, please visit www.lan.com or www.oneworldalliance.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

National Geographic Kids Magazine
Caryn Davidson, National Geographic Society, (212) 610-3808, cdavidso@ngs.org
Ethan Fried, National Geographic Society, (202) 857-7037, efried@ngs.org

PromPeru
Elisabeth Hakim, PromPeru, (+51) 224-3131 Ex. 1380, ehakim@promperu.gob.pe

Columbia Sportswear Company
Leslie Constans, Columbia Sportswear, (503) 985-4183, lconstans@columbia.com

Nikon
Geoff Coalter, MWW Group, (201) 964-2477, gcoalter@mww.com

FAIRMONT SCOTTSDALE PARTNERS WITH NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC FOR NEW 'EXPLORERS CAMP' FOR KIDS THIS SUMMER

2009-04-23

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (April 22, 2009) — Navigating with a GPS to discover desert creatures, going on a photo safari or, better yet, meeting real-life adventurers who have discovered new species and traveled to the ends of the Earth, the Fairmont Scottsdale is making this summer an adventure to remember. Continuing its commitment to responsible tourism — and to creating memorable vacations for the whole family — the AAA Five Diamond resort is partnering with National Geographic for the first National Geographic Explorers Camp, exclusively for overnight guests of Fairmont Scottsdale.

From May 22 to Sept. 7, 2009, the camp will be filled with fun, discovery-based activities for children ages 5-12, with added events for the entire family. Amping up the excitement, eight world-renowned National Geographic explorers will keynote camp events on special Saturdays throughout the summer, beginning May 30.

"We are proud to bring one of the world's largest nonprofit, scientific and educational organizations, National Geographic, to Fairmont Scottsdale, offering enriching experiences for our visiting families and their children," said Robert Foster, general manager of Fairmont Scottsdale. "This is an exciting addition to our relationship as a sponsor of National Geographic Live!, further promoting tourism and discovery together."

Andy van Duym, director of National Geographic Live! and National Geographic's Speakers Bureau, added, "Bringing National Geographic explorers and signature educational experiences into a camp for young people is a natural extension of our mission to inspire people to care about the planet. We're excited to partner with the Fairmont Scottsdale, as part of National Geographic Mission Programs' global partnership with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, to bring this distinctive and educationally rich program to kids and families. With our ongoing National Geographic Live! speaker series at the Mesa Arts Center during fall and spring, and now the Explorers Camp at the Fairmont Scottsdale during the summer, National Geographic looks forward to having a year-round presence in the Valley of the Sun."

Daily Camp Activities
The Explorers Camp will offer entertaining and educational programs, with half-day and full-day sessions, Tuesday through Sunday. Games and activities rotate daily, so campers may attend more than once and still discover something new each day:

Desert Discovery — This treasure hunt equips kids with GPS devices to uncover clues hidden around the 80-acre resort. Campers collaborate while collecting clues, applying logic and using "sleuthing" tools (disappearing ink, magnifying glass, measuring tape, mirror and pedometer) to find hidden animal replicas camouflaged into the resort landscape. Along the way, they learn about the fascinating creatures that make the Sonoran Desert their home.
Photo Safari — National Geographic, known for its captivating photography, will inspire youngsters to tell their stories through the lens. After campers are introduced to the basics of point-and-shoot digital photography, they will be sent on guided "assignments" around the diverse and visually stunning resort property. Each camper will be given a CD of their photographs to take home and share with their friends.
Geo Bowl — Similar to the enormously popular National Geographic Bee, this contest incorporates geography trivia with lavish photography. From easy to very challenging, the questions are delivered in a lively game show fashion, encouraging kids of all ages to play along, help each other ... and learn.
Giant Traveling Maps — Each month, one gigantic map will be on loan and on display at Fairmont Scottsdale. These colorful and highly detailed maps of Africa, Asia or North/Central America are the largest ever produced by National Geographic, measuring up to 31 feet wide and 41 feet long. Kids walk, run and roll around on the maps as they "travel" to far-off places.

Special National Geographic Speaker Saturdays
Eight dynamic National Geographic speakers, such as reptile expert and TV host Brady Barr, primatologist Mireya Mayor and NASA engineer Kobie Boykins, will share stories of their extraordinary adventures and educate youngsters about their fascinating careers. Each explorer will interact with kids during the Saturday day camp and then will give a lively, entertaining presentation during a special Saturday night dinner for the whole family. (Media: additional speaker information and photography are available.)

Greg Marshall, Biologist/Inventor/FilmmakerMay 30
Brady Barr, Reptile Expert/TV HostJune 13
Zeb Hogan, Aquatic EcologistJune 27
Tim Samaras, Severe Storm ResearcherJuly 11
Joel Sartore, PhotographerAugust 1
Mireya Mayor, Primatologist/TV HostAugust 8
Kobie Boykins, NASA EngineerAugust 22
Mark Moffett, EcologistSeptember 5

Summer Pricing Details
Summer room rates for the Fairmont Scottsdale begin at $199 per room, per night, with a $100 daily food and beverage credit, and kids stay in the same room as their parents for free, May 10 to Sept. 20, 2009.

The National Geographic Explorers Camp is priced a la carte and is available exclusively for overnight resort guests:

$49 for a half-day session and $79 for a full-day session
Half-day session may include lunch for an additional $12; full-day includes lunch
During special National Geographic speaker weekends, half-day camp is $59 and full-day camp is $89
Each additional child in the same immediate family receives a $10 discount per session
Each camper is given a camp backpack filled with goodies
For the special Saturday night explorer dinner presentation for the whole family, the dinner price is $30 per adult; $15 per child ages 6-12; and kids 5 and younger dine free
Camp reservations are recommended 24 hours in advance

Additional Family Amenities at Fairmont Scottsdale
Year-Round Kids Club
Alongside the new National Geographic Explorers Camp, all of Fairmont Scottsdale's family-friendly activities will also be available. The regular, year-round complimentary Kid's Club, for kids ages 5-12, offers fun-filled activities designed just for kids, including new Nintendo Wii and XBOX game stations, board games galore, pinball, air hockey, basketball sport court, jungle gym, fishing, nature walks and even an occasional reptilian friend. There is a $12 fee for lunch and an afternoon snack if the child participates in the full-day program.

Sonoran Splash
Over at Sonoran Splash, families can spend all day at this 6,000-square-foot oasis, featuring two, 200-foot twisting water slides. For tots, there is a zero-entry deck area as well as a large sandbox complete with Tonka trucks and beach toys sure to keep little ones entertained for hours. Sonoran Splash is one of three pool areas that also offer luxurious poolside cabanas for rental.

Summer Dive-In Movies
Families can dive in, stay cool and enjoy a variety of family-friendly movies shown complimentary at the East Pool, Friday and Saturday nights, all summer long.

More for Kids, Just Ask!
To ensure families have the comforts of home, the Fairmont Scottsdale covers all of the bases with a variety of in-room amenities for children. Full-size cribs complete with bedding, high chairs, strollers, night lights, safety outlet covers, pack-n-play sets, humidifiers, baby monitors, baby shampoo, kid's robes and step stools are available for resort guests upon request, complimentary.

Just for Teens
The ultra-swank Teen Hangout is designed for teens, ages 13-17, and features a private music room, a 42" plasma TV complete with a selection of more than 100 DVDs, a Cyber Cafe, three XBOX stations and, of course, the all-important couches for just "hanging out." Access is complimentary for all teen guests.

For reservations or more information on the Fairmont Scottsdale's summer programs, please dial (800) 908-9370 or visit www.fairmont.com/scottsdale. The resort is located at 7575 East Princess Drive in Scottsdale, Ariz.

ABOUT FAIRMONT SCOTTSDALE:
Set against the backdrop of Arizona's McDowell Mountains, AAA Five-Diamond Fairmont Scottsdale reflects its Southwestern setting with Spanish colonial-style architecture, expansive plazas and lush, flower-filled gardens. The resort features 649 oversized guest rooms with a private terrace or balcony, five heated swimming pools, the luxurious 44,000-square-foot Willow Stream-The Spa at Fairmont and championship golf at the adjacent TPC Scottsdale Stadium and Champions courses. Dining options include the AAA Four-Diamond BOURBON STEAK by acclaimed chef Michael Mina, The Grill Seafood and Chops, overlooking the 18th green at the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course, and the new LV Bistro, featuring farm-fresh cuisine and menu emphasizing locally grown organic produce, natural meats and sustainable seafood.

The Fairmont Scottsdale is operated by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, a leader in the global hospitality industry with an extraordinary collection of iconic, luxury hotels around the world. The Fairmont Scottsdale is owned by Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc., a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns and provides value-enhancing asset management of high-end hotels and resorts in North America, Mexico and Europe.

ABOUT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC:
The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888, the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 360 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; live events; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program combating geographic illiteracy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.

STUDENTS USING NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SCHOOL PUBLISHING/HAMPTON BROWN 'EDGE' PROGRAM MAKE SIGNIFICANT GAINS IN READING AND LANGUAGE, STUDY FINDS

2009-02-10

WASHINGTON (Feb. 10, 2009)—"Edge," an innovative, integrated English-language learning program, dramatically helped students improve their reading and language skills within a year, a research study by the independent SEG Research Group has found. "Edge," published by National Geographic School Publishing/Hampton-Brown, is a core reading/language arts program designed for high school students who have not mastered essential reading, writing and language skills and are typically reading two or more years below grade level.

More than 1,800 students in grades nine through 12 from 18 school districts representing all regions of the United States participated in the study during the 2007-2008 school year. Results reveal that when matched with control group students using other intervention programs, students who used "Edge" gained more than three times as much in reading comprehension, more than twice as much in language, and one and a half times as much in vocabulary on a nationally standardized achievement measure.

"Edge" builds reading, writing and language power for striving readers and English language learners. The program equips students with the skills they need to succeed in an academic environment through use of systematic teaching and active participation. The materials, which include high-interest, multicultural literature selections, both fiction and nonfiction, engage and motivate adolescent readers. With comprehensive coverage of high school standards through specialized, focused instruction, the program leads to graduation and a rewarding future.

"We understand the importance of effectiveness research and have integrated it into our publishing program," said Alison Wagner, president, National Geographic School Publishing. "The 'Edge' study illustrates how National Geographic School Publishing materials can make a significant difference. I look forward to partnering with educators who are using the 'Edge' program to engage their students and unlock their true potential."

"One of the most exciting outcomes in using 'Edge' this year is that we had students that were able to pass our state's high school exit exam on their first attempt," said Luz Elena Perez, an administrator from a California school district. "We were so excited to have that unprecedented level of success with 'Edge,' because now, more than just ensuring that standards are met and students are motivated, we are able to say to our students, 'You can walk away from this high school with a diploma.' How empowering that is for students as well as for their teachers. Our district has a high level of commitment to 'Edge.'"

National Geographic School Publishing provides quality PreK-12 instructional materials, including resources for emergent and early literacy, reading/language arts, ESL/ELD and content literacy development. National Geographic School Publishing and Hampton-Brown brands include award-winning educational programs that deliver the engaging content and incredible quality educators know and expect from National Geographic. In the area of ESL, Hampton-Brown set the standard with its state-of-the-art programs "High Point" and "Avenues." National Geographic School Publishing programs for striving readers and English learners at the secondary level include "Edge" for high school and the newly released "Inside" for middle school students. This grades 6-12 solution is designed to build the language and literacy skills that students need to pass exit exams and to graduate from high school. National Geographic School Publishing products are ideal for English language learners, striving readers and diverse classrooms (see NGSP.com).

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S MAMA MIRABELLE TO BRING HER HOME MOVIES TO SPROUT® 7 DAYS A WEEK, BEGINNING JAN. 26

2009-01-22

Philadelphia/Washington - Jan. 21, 2009 - PBS KIDS Sprout®, the first 24-hour preschool destination available on TV, on demand and online for kids ages 2-5 and their parents and caregivers, will debut Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies, the award-winning preschool series from National Geographic Kids Entertainment, on Monday, Jan. 26, at 3:15 p.m. ET, as part of its popular afternoon block, The Sprout Sharing Show.

Starring Vanessa Williams (Ugly Betty) as the voice of Mama, this warm-hearted, high-spirited show about a sassy, soulful elephant host and the young animal characters she cares for on the African savanna combines an animated world that preschoolers will want to explore with stunning wildlife movies from the National Geographic and BBC archives.

Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies features a cast of animated baby animal characters, including Mama's inquisitive elephant calf, Max; a know-it-all cheetah named Bo; a sweet zebra named Karla; and three rambunctious monkey brothers, Kip, Flip and Chip. The animals might not look like they have much in common on the outside, but on the inside they all share a curiosity about themselves and the world they live in.

In each episode, the animals gather around the maternal Mama Mirabelle to watch home videos of themselves and other amazing creatures of the natural world. Whatever the young animals want to know — whether it's why they need to sleep at night, why they can't go to the watering hole by themselves, or when it's okay to trumpet at full blast — Mama helps them find answers by showing them footage from the collection of wildlife movies she has gathered along her travels.

Using live-action footage from the National Geographic and BBC archives, the show illuminates the real world for preschoolers, helps them find their place in it and provides insight into animal customs and behaviors. The series also features original African- and world-inspired music, including songs performed by Vanessa Williams.

Games and coloring pages for Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies will be available at SproutOnline.com. Mama Mirabelle-themed soft-cover books and other related products are available at retail stores nationwide and at www.shop.nationalgeographic.com.

Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies is a co-production of National Geographic Kids Entertainment, BBC/CBeebies and King Rollo Films.

For additional information on Sprout programs or schedules, visit SproutOnline.com. To find out where Sprout is available in your area, call 1.866.9.SPROUT.

High-resolution images are available in the media gallery at http://ftp.nationalgeographic.com/pressroom/mama_mirabelle (username: press; password: press).

About Sprout®
PBS KIDS Sprout, the first 24-hour preschool destination available on TV, on demand and online for kids ages 2-5 and their parents and caregivers, was created as a partnership among Comcast Corporation, HIT Entertainment, PBS and Sesame Workshop. Since debuting its video on demand (VOD) service in April 2005, Sprout has become the #1 On Demand service for younger children, generating over half a billion views. The 24-hour digital channel, which launched in September 2005 along with the website (SproutOnline.com), is the only channel that follows the day of a child from breakfast to bedtime with its distinctive programming. Currently, Sprout is available in 47 million unique households.

The network's program lineup of gold-standard, curriculum-based children's shows includes Sesame Street®, Bob the Builder™, Barney & Friends™, Thomas & Friends™, Angelina Ballerina™, Caillou®, The Berenstain Bears™, Dragon Tales™, Pingu™, Make Way For Noddy™, The Hoobs™, Fifi and the Flowertots™ and more.

About National Geographic Kids Entertainment
National Geographic Kids Entertainment is an independent production and U.S. distribution entity of National Geographic Ventures. Established in 2003, NGKE brings the renowned National Geographic brand to children's entertainment through the development, production and distribution of quality, animated and live-action, entertainment-driven programming that excites kids to explore their world. NGKE will work with all major broadcast outlets in the United States and abroad. For more information about National Geographic, visit www.nationalgeographic.com.

GROUP TICKETS FOR NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MUSEUM EXHIBIT 'TERRA COTTA WARRIORS: GUARDIANS OF CHINA'S FIRST EMPEROR' ON SALE NOW

2009-01-06

WASHINGTON (Jan. 6, 2009)—The National Geographic Museum begins group ticket sales today for its presentation of the exhibition "Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China's First Emperor," Nov. 19, 2009, through March 31, 2010. The museum will be the final venue of the exhibition's four-city U.S. tour. The exhibition includes 15 terra cotta figures, the largest number ever to travel to the United States from the tomb of China's First Emperor, Qin Shihuangdi, who reigned from 221-210 B.C.

"It seems fitting that the exhibition's final stop is in the nation's capital," said Susan Norton, director of the National Geographic Museum. "We encourage visitors from all over the East Coast to make the trip to Washington to see these remarkable cultural treasures before they return to China."

Tickets for groups of 10 or more, at $8 per ticket, can now be purchased. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com/terracottawarriors or call (202) 857-7281. Timed tickets for individuals go on sale in May 2009. Individual ticket prices are $12 for adults; $10 for seniors, students, military personnel and National Geographic members; and $6 for school groups and children ages 2-12. Interested individuals can also sign up to receive exhibition and ticketing updates on the exhibition's Web site, nationalgeographic.com/terracottawarriors.

To accommodate the exhibition, the National Geographic Museum will more than double its current gallery space, expanding across the entire first floor of the Society's 17th Street building. After "Terra Cotta Warriors" closes, this added space will allow the museum to expand its exhibition offerings.

Considered one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century, the First Emperor's enormous tomb complex contains thousands of terra cotta warriors intended to protect him in the afterlife. The exhibition offers an in-depth look at this historical site and showcases 100 sets of objects, including 15 life-size terra cotta figures representing soldiers, servants, musicians, acrobats and animals.

The terra cotta warriors were discovered in 1974 by a group of farmers digging a well near Xi'an in Shaanxi province. When archaeologists began excavating the area, they uncovered a subterranean vault containing fragments of thousands of terra cotta figures in three large pits. More than 1,000 life-size figures have been restored as part of the site's ongoing excavation.

Emperor Qin Shihuangdi was one of the most important political leaders to rule China over the past 2,000 years. After defeating six neighboring warring states, he declared himself emperor of the unified territory in 221 B.C. He then instituted new policies that paved the way for China's development as a nation.

Construction of the First Emperor's tomb took 36 years and began soon after he became ruler of the state of Qin at age 13. The tomb complex is estimated to extend more than 19 square miles. The warriors' bodies were created in an assembly-line fashion, and molds were used to mass-produce hands, heads and ears. Craftsmen sculpted individual armor details and facial features by hand. No two faces are alike.

"Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China's First Emperor" began its U.S. tour at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, Calif., in May 2008. The same collection of objects is currently on display at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta through April 19, 2009, under a different title and curatorial framework. "Terra Cotta Warriors" will be at the Houston Museum of Natural Science from May 22 to Oct. 16, 2009, before coming to the National Geographic Museum in November 2009.

In support of the exhibition, National Geographic has published a companion book, "Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China's First Emperor," by Jane Portal, and exhibit-related merchandise will be available online and in its museum store. National Geographic also will offer an exhibition audio tour; teacher and family guides; National Geographic Live! programming; an online game; and more. The museum is working with Destination DC and Cultural Tourism DC to coordinate a city-wide celebration of the exhibition with hotel packages, themed promotions with area restaurants and related cultural programming.

The exhibition will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extended hours on Wednesdays until 9 p.m. It will be closed on Dec. 25.

The exhibition is co-organized by the Bowers Museum, Houston Museum of Natural Science and National Geographic Museum, and guest curator Dr. Albert E. Dien, professor emeritus, Stanford University. The objects in the exhibition were drawn from 11 different collections in and near Xi'an, China, including the Museum of the First Emperor's Terracotta Army and Horses, Shaanxi Provincial Institute for Archaeological Research, the Zhouzhi Museum, Baoji Museum, Xianyang Museum, Lintong Museum, Fengxiang Museum, Chencang Museum, Xi'an Institute for Archaeological Research and Protection, Baoji Archaeological Excavation Team, and Xianyang Institute for Archaeological Research.

The National Geographic Museum, located at 1145 17th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., features a variety of changing exhibitions as well as permanent and interactive displays that reflect the richness and diversity of our world. The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 325 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and spearheads an education program combating geographic illiteracy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.

RAJASTHAN, INDIA, TEENAGERS TO DOCUMENT THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE LENS OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

2008-12-30

WASHINGTON (Dec. 30, 2008)—National Geographic will hold its first Photo Camp in India from Monday, Jan. 5, to Friday, Jan. 9, in the Jhadol area of Rajasthan. During the workshop, developed in partnership with Sanjhi, a Rajasthan-based NGO working with media literacy and sustainable development, National Geographic contributing photographer Ed Kashi will mentor 20 teenagers from the Udaipur region as they explore and document Jhadol's communities and environment. The students, from rural and urban areas, will photograph, edit and design a portrait of this region's ecological and social landscape, and will have the rare opportunity to interact and collectively reflect on environmental issues.

During the camp Kashi will brief the students on photographic vision, equipment and technique and guide them through the process of creating a story through photography and writing. The budding photographers will be assigned to subjects that help them better understand the environment and each other. In addition to Kashi, the young photographers will be assisted by National Geographic magazine senior photo editor Sadie Quarrier, who will review their work, using the photographs as a catalyst for discussion, and edit their photos for a final presentation and future gallery exhibitions.

During the workshop Sanjhi will host streetplays in the village to educate the teenagers about conservation and local environmental issues. The final edited collection of images will be exhibited at Udaipur's cultural center, Lok Kala Mandal.

"We hope Photo Camp India will provide students with a unique lens on the world and help expand their awareness of the environment and their impact on it," said Terry Garcia, National Geographic's executive vice president, Mission Programs. "We are honored to participate in this endeavor."

"This is a very exciting opportunity for our teenagers. This Photo Camp will be the first time most of them will interact visually with their environment and recognize the power of media to generate social awareness at a massive scale," said Chhaya Bhanti, executive director, Sanjhi. "To be able to do so under the tutelage of Ed Kashi is a tremendous privilege."
EVOLT 510 cameras for the Photo Camp have been provided by Olympus Imaging America Inc. After the workshop eight EVOLT 330 cameras, cards and readers will be donated to Sanjhi to help encourage the local youth to continue to document their world.

Kashi, a freelance photographer since 1979, travels the world capturing stunning images of ordinary life in extraordinary communities. As a photojournalist, filmmaker and educator, he is dedicated to documenting the social and political issues that define our times. He has produced 15 stories for National Geographic magazine, most recently "Fast Lane to the Future: India's Superhighway" in the October 2008 issue.

National Geographic Mission Programs this year has sponsored Photo Camps in Costa Rica; Taos, N.M.; Chesapeake Bay; Appalachian Trail; Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, S.D.; Camden, Maine; New York; Santa Monica, Calif.; and Miami, in partnership with VisionWorkshops of Annapolis, Md. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com/photocamp.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 325 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program combating geographic illiteracy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.

Founded in 1997 by Dr. Raj Bhanti and Chhaya Bhanti, Sanjhi, a word that means mutuality, symbolizes community participation. Its mission is to build a platform for awareness and action by empowering communities with media skills and educational resources on sustainable development. Sanjhi has conducted several programs in vocational training, children's education, skill development and family counseling around the Mewar region. Recognizing the importance of research and visual documentation to comprehend the interconnectedness of social and environmental issues, Sanjhi is gearing itself into a global media platform. It aims to facilitate multi-channel dialogues on socio-environmental concerns by gathering and disseminating information from the grassroots and empowering members of communities with media access who are eager to create change within their local communities.

GENETIC DIVERSITY OF LATIN AMERICANS IS CELEBRATED AT GENOGRAPHIC PROJECT EVENT IN MIAMI

2008-12-09

MIAMI (Dec. 9, 2008)—Following the recent launch of its Spanish-language DNA testing kit, the Genographic Project, an international research initiative by National Geographic and IBM, today invited the Spanish-speaking public to look beyond traditional genealogy to discover how their ancient ancestors journeyed from Africa to populate the planet 60,000 years ago. The unique five-year project seeks to more fully chart the genetic migratory history of the human species, using DNA as a study tool to answer some of the most basic questions we have about ourselves — where do we come from and how did we get to where we live today?

Western European Genographic principal investigator and population geneticist Dr. David Comas was at the Miami Museum of Science today to discuss and demonstrate how Latin American populations can discover the journeys of their shared ancestors with the new Spanish-language DNA testing kit. Miami-based participants representing Spain and 17 Latin American countries shared their stories in a new art installation titled "Ancestral Dinner Party," by Xavier Cortada, a Miami artist with a permanent installation at the Miami Museum of Science.

"The Latin American culture in the United States is well-known as a melting pot, a mix of Native Americans, Africans, Europeans and Asians," said Comas, who is based at the University of Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona. "Language should not be a barrier to participate in the Genographic Project, and that is why the Genographic Public Participation Kit is now available in Spanish. The test can reveal to Latin Americans how their ancient ancestors contributed to culture today."

San Juanita de la Cruz, a Miami resident born in Mexico, described her experience with the Genographic Project: "My move from Mexico to Miami in 1953 was life-changing for me, and the Genographic Project has helped me understand how my own journey fits in with the migration of my ancient ancestors. It adds another dimension — much more on a global scale — on how I can think about my Mexican heritage."

"This is a great opportunity for the Latino community, and I am honored to participate. Many of us coming to this country have inevitably suffered a certain loss of culture. It would be a shame to lose our migratory history as well. The Genographic Project re-acquaints us with our ancient past to show that we are, more or less, all related and connected to one another," said Genographic Project participant Jimmy Gamonet de los Heros, from Peru.

Cortada explained how the "Ancestral Dinner Party" installation (opening today) integrates science with art to "depict when and where the ancient ancestors of present-day Latin Americans last dined together along their 60,000-year journey out of Africa to populate our planet." Miami residents representing Spain and 17 Latin American countries — Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela — participated in the project and are featured in the installation.
DNA studies suggest that all humans today descended from a group of African ancestors who began a remarkable journey about 60,000 years ago. A team of Genographic international research scientists is working with indigenous and traditional people around the world to create one of the world's largest anthropological surveys of its kind to fill in the gaps in our knowledge of humankind's migratory history. Comas described how the project hopes to help capture "a true snapshot" of humanity's rich genetic diversity before modern-day influences erase it forever.

Members of the public are encouraged to get involved in this "real time" research effort by purchasing an anonymous participation kit at the Genographic Project's new Spanish Web site http://www.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/lan/es/. Net proceeds from the sale of the Genographic public participation kit support the Genographic Legacy Fund, giving back to indigenous and traditional peoples around the world. With a simple and painless cheek swab, participants send in their DNA, track its progress online with an anonymous access code found in the kit and can view their own interactive, personalized and confidential deep history.

The Genographic Project is on track to "put the leaves on the branches" of what science knows today about humankind's ancient migration stories, says Project Director and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Dr. Spencer Wells. Since Genographic's launch, more than 300,000 people around the world have participated in the project. "Among other things, we hope the findings from the project will underscore how closely related we are to one another as part of the extended human family," Wells said.

Background: The Genographic Project was launched in 2005 by National Geographic and IBM, with field research by the Waitt Family Foundation and laboratory research supported by Applied Biosystems, using genetics as a tool to address anthropological questions on a global scale. At the core of the project is a global consortium of 11 regional scientific teams following an ethical and scientific framework and who are responsible for sample collection and analysis in their respective regions. Members of the public may participate by purchasing a public participation kit (USD $99.95) from the Genographic Web site (www.nationalgeographic.com/genographic or http://www.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/lan/es/), where they can also choose to donate their genetic results to the expanding database. Sales of the kits help fund research and support a Legacy Fund for indigenous peoples' community-led language revitalization and cultural projects.

MEDIA NOTES:
For interview requests, contact Vanessa Tartak, (323) 202-1453; vanessa.tartak@edelman.com.
For further information on the Genographic Project, contact Glynnis Breen, (202) 857-7481; gbreen@ngs.org.
For photographs: http://ftp.nationalgeographic.com/pressroom/genographic_images/
USER NAME: press PASSWORD: press

About National Geographic
Founded in 1888, National Geographic is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations with a mission to inspire people to care about the planet. National Geographic reflects the world through its seven magazines, cable television channels and programs, books, films, videos, maps, radio, music, interactive media, exhibitions and merchandise, reaching more than 325 million people each month. For more information, go to www.nationalgeographic.com.

About IBM
IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with more than 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. It has a long history of innovating on behalf of society and in recent years has launched a series of major research initiatives designed to overcome many of the remaining "grand challenges" of science, including the Deep Blue chess-playing computer and unraveling the mysteries of protein folding with BlueGene, the world's fastest supercomputer. IBM Research is the world's largest information technology research organization, with more than 3,000 scientists and engineers at eight labs in six countries. For more information, visit www.ibm.com.

About the Waitt Family Foundation
Established in 1993 by Ted Waitt, co-founder of Gateway, the initial scope of the Waitt Family Foundation was community building in at-risk communities. The Waitt Institute for Violence Prevention was formed, realizing that its work in domestic violence had the most measurable impact and allowed the foundation to broaden its activities to exploring the past and to investing in science for the future. Expanding on this effort, the Waitt Institute for Discovery was created with a primary focus on nautical archaeology. Currently, the foundation funds a variety of environmental and scientific programs with an emerging focus on ocean conservation.

GEOGRAPHY AWARENESS WEEK HIGHLIGHTS SPECTACULAR DIVERSITY OF THE AMERICAS

2008-11-14

WASHINGTON (Nov. 14, 2008)--National Geographic invites budding explorers on a seven-day "tour" of the marvelous cultures and natural wonders of the Americas during Geography Awareness Week 2008, Nov. 16-22. Geography Awareness Week is part of Geography Action!, an annual conservation and awareness program for schools and students in grades K through 12, designed to educate and excite youngsters about the world's natural, cultural and historic treasures. This year's spotlight on the Americas is National Geographic's third leg of a five-year journey focusing its geographic lens on five world regions.

At the Geography Action! Web site (nationalgeographic.com/geographyaction), teachers can find an assortment of resources, including hands-on activities; downloadable lesson plans and maps; a free, downloadable Americas map kit with tips for creating a jumbo-sized map of the Western Hemisphere; and links to additional resources on the Americas.

"Our compelling maps, activities, lesson plans and educational resources on the Americas will help students and teachers learn about these extraordinarily diverse continents," said Terry Garcia, National Geographic executive vice president of Mission Programs. "Web resources give students and teachers the necessary tools to understand the varied cultures and history of the Americas, the importance of their local regions, and the larger issues of relationships among people, places and environments."

Geography Action! is a program of National Geographic Education & Children's Programs, which provides grants, training, hands-on activities and support for educators and organizations.