by Frank | Nov 17, 2011 | explore, NatGeo Adventure, Travel
Wanna be Bear Grylls, Ray Mears or Ranulph Fiennes? Then it’s time for Explore, the annual fieldwork and planning weekend at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 18th through 20th of November.
It’s an amazing opportunity to meet those who’ve just come back from expeditions, those about to go, and those just working up the courage. You’ll find inspiration, like minds, planning sessions for your trip and opportunities to raise money, film it, talk to potential sponsors or take part in someone else’s adventure. Everything from tracking whales to discovering the 21st Century equivalent of the Galapagos islands to solo expeditions across land, ice, and sea and outreach with the remote cultures, it’s all there to be had, you’ve only get there.
For full itinerary of speakers and workshops, go here: Explore 2011.
Even better yet, join the society and receive monthly updates on expeditions you could take part in and change your life forever.
Remember to drop me a line when you do!
This year’s Explore weekend will be chaired by explorer and broadcaster Paul Rose, Vice President of the Society, who will also be on hand to provide advice.
Speaker topics include; an expedition across Iceland to study remote glaciers, environmental fieldwork in Mozambique studying giant elephant shrews, and journeying the length of the Amazon River. The full Explore 2011 programme (PDF), including speakers and topics is available to download, along with our media release (PDF).
The weekend begins with a Friday night lecture by the Atlantic Rising team – 2009’s recipients of the RGS-IBG/Land Rover ‘Go Beyond’ Bursary – who undertook a 28,000 mile journey to discover how climate change is affecting communities around the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.
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by Frank | May 5, 2011 | How to Drive a Tank..., Reader's Questions, Writing
Just in time for Father’s Day the paperback for How to Drive a Tank… is now out and available to order via Amazon and other online retailers as well as any good local bookshop. So after two years in hardback I thought I’d share two of my favourite emails from readers. I’ll share more in future.
And if you’re one of the people who is thinking of emailing me about an adventure you have in mind, please, just do it. I regularly receive requests and read all of them if even I can’t guarantee I can actually take part.
From Stephen (one of my most recent reader reviews):
Hi Frank, Read your book and loved it. Very funny thing happened though; on the day that I bought it, I had planned in advance to (that day) write to Charles Bronson and recommend that with all his spare time he start doing yoga instead of his ten million sit ups a day routine (Yoga has a bad image problem but I do it and LOVE it!!). Then as I was flicking through the book in the bookshop I stumbled across the ‘Yoga for psychopaths chapter…Bizarre!!! Anyway my real motivation for writing is that yesterday I saw that James May (one of the three old sad pretend irreverent from Top Gear, or is it ‘Last of The Summer Wine?), has written (or at least had GHOST-written) a rip off copy of your book called ‘How to land a 330 Bomber and other tips for the modern gent’ and it was in a far more prominent position in the shop. Sadly it seems that Marketing, Plagiarism Capitalism and Brand names are more important than originality and creativity. Sue him if you can! Best wishes and Regards Stephen. P.S. Found the assertiveness bit in your book very helpful in dealing with mad ex girlfriend who I am forced to have contact with.
From Allan (one of my first reader reviews):
Dear Frank I recently bought your `How to drive a tank,’ book, and have to say its one of the best reads I’ve had in a long time. I’ve laughed more reading this book then I have with television lately, and some of the situations you talk about just made me fall flat on the floor ( or laugh very hard on the bus). As a 16 year old lad who is constantly seeking knowledge I must admit I was drawn to `make things go boom,’. You can be sure that if there are women screaming and running away at a party, I am now officially the cause. My girlfriend is now the owner of the book, she has a good laugh at the sexual chapters and particularly loves your introduction to `laughing and crying,’. I don’t mind the fact she keeps telling me I’m going to die one day, but must she be so upfront about it? Thanks for a great read that I am sure will be read many times. From your newest fan.
It’s always brilliant to receive your emails, so do keep them coming. Thanks a million, Frank.
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by Frank | Dec 1, 2010 | explore, Journalism, Travel
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Internship Opportunities at Atlantic Productions
Atlantic Productions will be offering up two internships to those who have recently returned from an expedition and are attending Explore 2010. The two successful recruits will be asked to join the Atlantic team making high-end documentary specials and series. Atlantic productions have recently created programmes for the BBC, Channel 4, Discovery Channel and the highly acclaimed cinematic release ‘The Wildest Dream’ . The internship will be a three month, paid position. For more information on Atlantic Productions Internships email: go@rgs.org
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TEST TEST TEST
Internship Opportunities at Atlantic Productions
TEST Atlantic Productions will be offering up two internships to those who have recently returned from an expedition and are attending Explore 2010. The two successful recruits will be asked to join the Atlantic team making high-end documentary specials and series. Atlantic productions have recently created programmes for the BBC, Channel 4, Discovery Channel and the highly acclaimed cinematic release ‘The Wildest Dream’ . The internship will be a three month, paid position. For more information on Atlantic Productions Internships email: go@rgs.org
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by Frank | Oct 28, 2010 | explore, How to Drive a Tank..., Travel
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 Explore 2010: the annual expedition and fieldwork planning weekend
12-14 November at RGS-IBG, London
With over one hundred leading field scientists and explorers taking part, this weekend is an unmissable event for amateurs and experts alike. Come and share ideas, experiences and your enthusiasm! Book your place and join us in London at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) headquarters for our annual event with a range of workshops, seminars and one-on-one advice sessions aimed at those undertaking responsible travel and research overseas.
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Opening lecture
Friday 12 November, 6.30pm
Arctic science and polar exploration:are the two compatible?
Pen Hadow and Dr Helen Findlay give the opening lecture and share their experiences of conducting scientific research at the Ice Base and on route to the North Pole. The evening will provide a topical and exciting debate for all those interested in arctic landscapes. More…
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Sunday 14 November 2010
Field Research & Sharing the experience sessions
Headlining on Sunday morning will be Ed Stafford, who walked the Amazon who won the battle with technology to communicate his journey to a global audience.
For those wishing to made a contribution to a better understanding of the world’s environments – projects likely to attract funding from the RGS-IBG grants programme and elsewhere, the Sunday morning workshops in the Biological, Earth and Human sciences will help identify research priorities and the skills needed to design an effective field research project.
The mapping workshop is ideal for those hoping to use remote sensing, GIS and GPS to collect geo-referenced spatial data.
There is also a session dedicated to those whose expeditions have education as a primary or component part. Sunday afternoon focuses on on photography, journalism, sound and video; all skills needed to attract support and to share your expedition findings.
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Programme highlights
Saturday 13 November
Planning and logistics
Learn from those who have recently returned from expeditions including Felicity Aston and Helen Turton of the Commonwealth Women’s Antarctic Expedition. Find out how to get involved in expeditions, essential preparation and planning, and the all important issue of raising funds. Martin Holland will describe how a group of students have mounted able them to mount an ambitious tropical forest research programme in Indonesia.
Professor David Warrell will give advice on how to avoid the most common and sometimes exotic ailments in remote and wilderness locations.
The afternoon sessions are an opportunity to discuss the challenges of living and working in a range of environments with an experienced panel. Jo Royle, skipper of the Plastiki, leads a discussion on oceans with other panels covering mountain, tropical forest, river, polar, and desert environments.
Our cycling panel includes an impressive line up with Tom Allen and Andy Welch of Ride the Earth and the Hungry cyclist, Tom Kevill-Davies.
For those interested in vehicle-based expeditions – Saturday covers the nuts and bolts of vehicle preperation and paperwork; Sunday is devoted to the art of route planning, with the sessions supported by Land Rover staff.
More…
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What the delegates say:
“Explore is the real deal… An event where even the celebrities leave their egos at the door. The lectures and workshops are fascinating, but it’s the atmosphere that makes it unique. The energy and sense of support and encouragement is electrifying – you can’t help but come away with a sense of urgency and self-belief, as well as the contacts to make whatever you decide to do happen.
In 2008 as a wannabe explorer I came away with more contacts than I knew what to do with. One year and two expeditions later I was there with my own expedition team with plans to explore Borneo’s rainforest. This year, I’ll be returning as a speaker just days before we begin a 3 month expedition into unexplored rainforest.
Explore gave me the inspiration and the confidence to start that journey, and I would encourage everyone, from seasoned veterans to school leavers with itchy feet, to come and take part.”
Martin Holland, Heart of Borneo Project 2010.
Winner of the RGS-IBG Neville Shulman Challenge Award More…
Costs:
Full price £110 for the whole weekend. Student price £75 . Group discounts and day rates available. More…
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Opening lecture
Friday 12 November, 6.30pm
Arctic science and polar exploration:are the two compatible?
Pen Hadow and Dr Helen Findlay give the opening lecture and share their experiences of conducting scientific research at the Ice Base and on route to the North Pole. The evening will provide a topical and exciting debate for all those interested in arctic landscapes. More…
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Sunday 14 November 2010
Field Research & Sharing the experience sessions
Headlining on Sunday morning will be Ed Stafford, who walked the Amazon who won the battle with technology to communicate his journey to a global audience.
For those wishing to made a contribution to a better understanding of the world’s environments – projects likely to attract funding from the RGS-IBG grants programme and elsewhere, the Sunday morning workshops in the Biological, Earth and Human sciences will help identify research priorities and the skills needed to design an effective field research project.
The mapping workshop is ideal for those hoping to use remote sensing, GIS and GPS to collect geo-referenced spatial data.
There is also a session dedicated to those whose expeditions have education as a primary or component part. Sunday afternoon focuses on on photography, journalism, sound and video; all skills needed to attract support and to share your expedition findings.
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by Frank | Dec 8, 2009 | explore, How to Drive a Tank..., Journalism, Travel
Over the last few weeks readers of both my book and blog have been asking me how they can get involved in some of the adventurous activities that I like to get up to in my own life. So over the next few weeks I’ll be writing a series of short articles that give you ideas on how you can join expeditions to the ends of the earth or learn how to jump out of planes, drive cars sideways or shoot guns.
To start let’s have a quick update from this year’s Explore at the Royal Geographical Society. Did you know there are more than 90 organisations on the RGS’s books looking for volunteers or staff to join their expeditions?
To give you a prime example, the gates have just closed for gap-year students with a lust for adventure and a passion for environmental science on The British Schools Exploring Society’s Extreme Arctic expedition to Svalbard this spring.
To find out more and search the database of organisations looking for people just like you, go here.
In the next two articles I’ll be profiling some of the opportunities available and giving you ideas for two years of space exploration, driving skills and tactical firearms on British soil.
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Writer, Entrepreneur, Speaker, Father.
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