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Jill Tiefenthaler shared thisPop quiz. Did you know: 🐝 There are over 20,000 different species of bees. 🍯 They create more than honey. These architects also build, bore and burrow their shelters. 💡 They can also perform cognitive feats like identifying human faces and planning for the future. These tiny creatures are not only fascinating but also vital to our survival. That’s why National Geographic is uncovering their secrets for its May cover story: https://lnkd.in/estt3MeQ Inside, meet the scientists working to understand bees and uncover strategies to protect them, including two #NatGeoExplorers: Entomologist Melanie Kirby, MSc. is learning that honeybees are far more resilient and adaptable than we thought. By breeding bees that have proven their ability to survive harsh climates and other threats, she’s charting a path forward for the species. Animal behavior biologist Felicity Muth is studying bumblebee cognition and uncovering remarkable intelligence in the queens, likely because queens have to set off on their own to establish new hives. Many thanks to the Templeton World Charity Foundation for supporting Felicity’s work as part of the Wildlife Intelligence Project, inspired by Jane Goodall and the Templeton Prize. 🐝 Earth Month may be coming to an end, but here at the National Geographic Society, we’re committed to supporting Explorers who are protecting pollinators all year round. Ready to find your spark? You can help at natgeo.org/earthmonth 📸 Photo by Karine Aigner
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Jill Tiefenthaler shared thisWhat first sparked your curiosity about our world? For many of us, it was a teacher whose enthusiasm for learning helped us to see the world a little differently, setting us on our own paths of discovery. That spark, and the ripple effect it creates, is at the heart of the Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship program. Each year, the National Geographic Society and Lindblad Expeditions select an incredible cohort of K-12 educators to go on expeditions to places like Antarctica and the Galapágos Islands to deepen their geographic knowledge. When they return, they share their learnings and stories with their students, setting off a chain reaction of discovery. It was such a joy to spend time with this year’s cohort in Washington, D.C. Congratulations to our 2026 fellows, and thank you for sharing your stories with me! This year is particularly special because we’re celebrating 20 years of this program. What started with just two educators in 2006 has grown into an amazing community of: 📚 470 fellows 🌎 Spanning 50 U.S. states, D.C., Puerto Rico and Canada 📣 Collectively, they’re reaching 11,000+ students each year. I’m deeply grateful to the Education and Community Engagement team for nurturing this program over the last two decades. Special thanks to Deborah Renee Grayson, PhD (she/her/ella), Fay Gore, Brynn Johnson, Travis Price and Gelilah Assefa for the care and attention you bring to this work. And to Sven Lindblad, thank you for your enduring vision for this impactful program, and to Natalya Leahy, Amy Berquist and Angela Thomas at Lindblad for your collaboration in bringing it to life. 🔗 Explore more about the 2026 cohort and legacy of the program: https://lnkd.in/eM6SCD5X 📸 1. The 2026 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow cohort. Photo by Alexandra Daley-Clark/Lindblad Expeditions 2. A group photo of Society and Lindblad leaders and staff: (from left to right) Angela Thomas, Deborah Grayson, Sven Lindblad, Jill Tiefenthaler, Amy Berquist, Brynn Johnson and Fay Gore. Photo by Alexandra Daley-Clark/Lindblad Expeditions 3. A Lindblad Expeditions vessel. Photo by Ralph Lee Hopkins/Lindblad Expeditions
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Jill Tiefenthaler shared thisAs a child, #NatGeoExplorer Sammy Ramsey was so terrified of insects that he’d sometimes refuse to even go outside. Today, he’s a world-renowned entomologist. How did he conquer his fear? Just as any resourceful, aspiring scientist would: by learning more about them. His parents encouraged him to read, and in second grade, he checked out every young adult book on insects from his local library. It taught him a profound lesson: People fear what they don’t understand. Today, Sammy is devoted to deepening our understanding of bees. His research explores the plight of honey bees, uncovering new strategies to protect their global populations from parasites, pesticides and poor nutrition. Now, he’s inspiring people around the world to love bees as much as he does. We’re excited to see him shine in National Geographic’s new docuseries, Secrets of the Bees, streaming on Disney+ and Hulu. 🐝 Explore more about Sammy and his work: https://lnkd.in/d_GTwJhg 📸 Photos by Mark Thiessen / National Geographic
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Jill Tiefenthaler shared thisHave you ever stopped to think about how creatures the size of a paperclip keep billions of people fed? With each flight from flower to hive, bees make the world we know possible, sustaining ecosystems and supporting our global food supply. I take so much hope from that. If bees can carry that much impact, imagine what each of us can do. That’s the spirit we’re embracing this #EarthDay: the belief that every small action matters. Whether you’re growing native plants in your garden, skipping pesticides for your lawn or joining citizen science projects, we all have a role to play in protecting pollinators. At the National Geographic Society, one of the biggest roles we play is supporting #NatGeoExplorers who are researching and safeguarding these tiny heroes. You’ll meet four of them in our Earth Month PSA: animal behavior biologist Felicity Muth, entomologist Sammy Ramsey, wildlife filmmaker Bertie Gregory and conservationist Rosa Vásquez Espinoza, Ph.D. 🐝 This Earth Day, I encourage you to take one small action, knowing that with all of us together, we’re creating a better future for everyone, even bees. If you feel inspired to donate, every dollar goes directly to supporting our Explorers and our mission work: natgeo.org/earthday
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Jill Tiefenthaler shared thisIf you’re anything like me, you’ve spent the last few weeks spellbound by the Artemis II mission. There’s a particular kind of awe in these moments. Watching humans travel to the far side of the moon has a way of pulling you forward and back, all at once. 🌒 At National Geographic, that pull often leads us to our archives, where we’ve preserved our long-standing fascination with space exploration with decades of photos, stories and other artifacts. In 1969, the National Geographic Society published this groundbreaking map, one of the most detailed resources of the time. Based on images from uncrewed lunar orbiter missions, the team meticulously hand-drafted and airbrushed every detail, documenting mountain ranges, the moon’s phases and proposed landing sites for Apollo 11 — just months before humans would first set foot there. 🌗 The map turned a distant world into something you could study, trace and imagine. And it reflects something we have always believed: when exploration goes further, we bring the world closer. This legacy is exactly what makes the Artemis II mission such a full-circle moment. NASA granted National Geographic unprecedented access to document the mission, training the crew to be their own photographers and videographers. Now, people everywhere can learn about the far side of the moon from the perspectives of these extraordinary astronauts. 🌖 Explore their stories from launch to landing: https://lnkd.in/ekDuW6hK 🖼️ Image by National Geographic Maps
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Jill Tiefenthaler shared thisHow do you prepare for life on other planets? You find a way to replicate it — on Earth. For decades, astronauts have relied on analog missions and simulations to prepare for the rigors of space exploration, and #NatGeoExplorer and photographer Mackenzie Calle set out to document the largest simulation yet. Last October, Mackenzie joined the World’s Biggest Analog, a two-week mission spanning extreme environments in over a dozen countries to explore how humans could adapt to living on Mars and the moon, and even in deep-space transit itself. In a remote corner of southern Utah’s desert, Mackenzie and three team members simulated life on Mars, contending with limited privacy, daily food and water rations, and sparse communication with the outside world. As the crew’s journalist, Mackenzie chronicled the story of the mission, while also serving as the green habitat officer, overseeing experiments to grow food. A demanding yet deeply enriching experience, the mission highlighted that the qualities needed to help humanity prepare for space travel — collaboration, ingenuity and empathy — are the same ones needed to sustain life here on Earth. The National Geographic Society is proud to have supported Mackenzie’s storytelling. Explore more about her fascinating experience from National Geographic: https://lnkd.in/dsCtsWju 📸 Photos by Mackenzie Calle
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Jill Tiefenthaler shared thisThis Earth Month, we're looking at the world from a bee's-eye view with #NatGeoExplorers like Felicity Muth! Join us at natgeo.org/earthmonthJill Tiefenthaler shared thisWhat's it like to be a bee? 🐝 Cognitive researcher and #NatGeoExplorer Felicity Muth is working to get into the mind of a bee, to understand the full extent of their intelligence. Her latest research reveals that bees, much like humans, have decision-making biases and preferences. From Muth’s perspective, “by understanding bees, we can also better understand other animals, including humans.” Muth’s work is funded by the National Geographic Society and Templeton World Charity Foundation as part of the Wildlife Intelligence Project — an initiative that supports investigations related to animal intelligence inspired by Dr. Jane Goodall and the Templeton Prize. Explore how Muth is decoding bee intelligence: https://lnkd.in/e2J86NY5.
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Jill Tiefenthaler shared thisThis photo reveals an incredible moment: a group of sperm whales working together to lift a newborn calf to the surface so it can take its first breath. It’s part of groundbreaking research from Project CETI (Cetacean Translation Initiative), a multidisciplinary team harnessing technology to understand sperm whales that’s led by #NatGeoExplorer David Gruber, alongside fellow Explorer Shane Gero. In 2023, the team became the first to record a sperm whale birth up close. What they’ve learned, after years of studying the footage, has transformed our understanding of these creatures. Two recent scientific papers, in Nature’s Scientific Reports and Science, report their findings: 🐋 Sperm whales collaborate throughout the birthing process, with kin and nonkin working together to support the mother and the newborn. ⏳ Remarkably, this behavior dates back over 35 million years. This research shows that sperm whales have long relied on complex communication and social bonds, cooperating in ways many once thought were unique to humans and other primates. The National Geographic Society is proud to support this team as they continue to reveal the intricate world of sperm whales. Congratulations, Project CETI! Explore more from National Geographic: https://lnkd.in/e6eWGYNT 📸 Female sperm whales from Unit A holding the newborn sperm whale calf above water until it is able to swim on its own. Photo by © Project CETI.
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Jill Tiefenthaler shared thisEvery inch of the National Geographic Museum of Exploration was designed with a singular, visionary purpose: to reveal our world’s natural wonders. That mission begins the moment you arrive at our courtyard, where the entrance is a vibrant celebration of biodiversity. Welcoming you are life-size bronze animal sculptures, from a social capybara to a stealthy jaguar to a Japanese giant salamander. Each sculpture is nestled within one of six interactive ecosystem planters, inviting you to explore environments like tropical forests, polar regions and deserts. As you wander, you’ll listen to immersive soundscapes, follow wildlife tracks etched into the ground and discover stories that ignite a lifelong curiosity for nature. One of the most magical elements bridges the physical and digital worlds. Thanks to EPAM Systems, our preferred digital transformation partner, these bronze sculptures will come to life right on your phone through a custom augmented reality app. After four years of watching the courtyard come to life outside my office window, I’m thrilled for you to experience this gateway to discovery. Doors open June 26! Get your tickets to #TheMOE and begin your journey: https://lnkd.in/eZq9EM7W 📸 A bronze sculpture of a capybara standing at attention, while a wattled jacana searches for insects on its back. In the background, a bronze sculpture of a jaguar watches hungrily. Photo by Rebecca Hale/National Geographic
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Congratulations, Justin!
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Dakota Bahlau Congratulations, Dakota! We're so excited for your fellowship experience.
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Jill Tiefenthaler reacted on thisJill Tiefenthaler reacted on thisCongratulations to wildlife and conservation scientist Justin Brashares! 🎉 Brashares has been named a #NatGeoExplorer in Residence to support Blue Boundaries, a partnership between the National Geographic Society and the Chubb Charitable Foundation that aims to build lasting resilience in the critical ecosystems where land meets water. “Blue Boundary environments are vital to the planet, providing essential services that support both people and nature. Through this program, we aim to understand the delicate balance of these ecosystems and identify scalable solutions to protect and restore them,” Brashares shares. Brashares joins a celebrated group of Explorers in Residence, including renowned storytellers Tara Roberts and Kirsten Elstner, paleoanthropologist Lee R. Berger and marine conservationist Enric Sala. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/etpGvpvF. Photo of Justin Brashares holding a trail camera courtesy of the Regents of the University of California
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Jill Tiefenthaler liked thisJill Tiefenthaler liked thisFaster than a darting fish, I have reached my 10 year anniversary at Shedd Aquarium this month. As I reflect on the last decade, I feel especially grateful to be part of an organization that continues to shape Chicago’s cultural and environmental future – just as flowing water physically shapes the world around us. Recently, I had the privilege of sitting down with the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board to share how, after 95 years, the mission of Shedd is more relevant, and more needed, than it has ever been before. Their resulting editorial helps truly illustrate how this aquarium means so much to so many. Shedd is both a beloved destination and a driver of aquatic conservation. We are just as much an employer and an economic engine for some as we are a nature-based escape for others. Here at Shedd, science is made real through the stories and experiences with aquatic life. Here is where we erase the human-nature divide, and where people and animals commune together. Over the past decade, I’ve had a front-row seat as we embarked on our Centennial Commitment – a strategic plan meant to help Shedd continue to evolve and accelerate our mission work ahead of our centennial year in 2030. I’ve watched ideas turn into action, 2D drawings transform into immersive galleries, and curiosity grow into meaningful change for our blue planet. I am beyond proud to be part of this mission and the One Shedd team, and thrilled for what’s ahead. 🌊 https://lnkd.in/gsVd9Pyj
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Jill Tiefenthaler liked thisJill Tiefenthaler liked thisLess than two months before we open the doors of the National Geographic Museum of Exploration! I was interviewed for this sneak peek that aired on NBC4 Washington this week. Hope to see you all at the MOE this summer! https://lnkd.in/edSj8TDUGet a first look inside the National Geographic Museum of ExplorationGet a first look inside the National Geographic Museum of Exploration
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Jill Tiefenthaler liked thisJill Tiefenthaler liked thisAs we wrap up Earth Month, we're proud to highlight our partnership with The National Geographic Society to combine technology, storytelling and purpose to shape a more informed and sustainable future. https://ow.ly/r2H350YSlFL #AugmentedReality #DigitalTransformation #TechForGood
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Jill Tiefenthaler liked thisJill Tiefenthaler liked thisBees may be small, but their impact is huge. 🐝 #NatGeoExplorer and urban ecologist Christopher Schell shares how bees, as a keystone species, help ecosystems thrive. Their work supports not just what we eat, but the environments all species call home. Stay tuned as we pass the National Geographic Society flag to the next Explorer before it makes its way back to the National Geographic Museum of Exploration, opening June 26, in Washington, D.C. #PassTheFlag 🟦🟫🟩
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Jill Tiefenthaler liked thisBest program I ever did partake in. To be respected and elevated and valued for the work educators do.. I cannot express how much it means to me to be part of this community.
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Jill Tiefenthaler reacted on thisCelebrating 20 years of seeing, supporting, honoring, elevating, and sharing the world with educators! The Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship program spoke to me since Day 1, and I’m beyond thrilled to see how it has grown, developed, and expanded over the years. Incredible collaboration with the Education team at the National Georaphic Society, fueled by the dedication and passion of teachers across the USA and Canada and the shipboard teams at Lindblad Expeditions! So grateful for Angela Thomas and Brynn Johnson who stand at the program’s helm for this 20th anniversary year, and all who support their leadership. Huge appreciation to all the early years contributors too (Mary Jo K Viederman Scott Kish Kim Hulse Anne Haywood Julie Brown Nina Page Meghan Modafferi Alison Szopinski JT Hardin Valerie Craig ). Together, we’ve created a platform where educators can find others in the teaching profession who share their drive, curiosity, and commitment to students and our planet… a platform that feels like a home. Thank you to all whose hands touch this work. Building community takes time, attention and intention. With this program, it’s always been strength upon strength. Cheers to a strong foundation and a future that’s as bright as we decide to make it! 🌏 🛳️ 🍎
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