The Explorer Mindset is a way of thinking, being and acting in the world. It is a set of attributes, shared values and commitments that define what it means to be a National Geographic Explorer.
We believe every person has the potential to develop that same Explorer Mindset, encouraging us to be curious, responsible and bold as we learn, discover and share.
Mapping the Explorer Mindset
The Attitudes, Skills and Knowledge of the Explorer Mindset illustrate the core strengths and capabilities that National Geographic Explorers apply to their work and can help educators and learners of all ages identify, learn about and act to solve the world's most pressing problems.
See our resources to learn more.
The Colors of the Explorer Mindset
The Explorer Mindset graphic uses the National Geographic Society flag colors (blue, brown, green) representing the sky, land and sea — a symbol of exploration since 1905, expressing the desire to learn about, illuminate and protect the wonder of our world.
The Explorer Mindset in Action
Watch the videos to see how the attributes of the Explorer Mindset show up in each Explorer's work.
How can you develop your own Explorer Mindset and unleash the Explorer within?
What Explorers Have to Say
Read the profiles below to see evidence of the Explorer Mindset in the Explorers’ own words. What would you like to explore?
Ana Belén Yánez-Suárez
Marine Biologist
Kendall Calhoun
Wildlife Ecologist
Hsin Cynthia Chiang
Cosmologist
Focus Areas
The Explorer Mindset communicates National Geographic’s core beliefs and values about the role of inquiry and geography in engaging with the world to foster curiosity, build knowledge and inspire informed action to protect the wonder of our world. National Geographic focuses on exploring in six critical areas.
Journey to the Explorer Mindset
For more than a century, National Geographic has given grants to scientists, educators, and storytellers doing work around the globe to illuminate and protect our world. These Explorers are infinitely curious people who represent diverse backgrounds and fields of work, but are united by a shared mindset that shapes how they approach their work.
National Geographic Learning Framework
In 2014, National Geographic’s CEO Gary Knell challenged staff to articulate a learning framework that would show our audiences that the Society’s programs and resources were not only designed to reflect our mission and vision, but were grounded in sound research around teaching and learning principles and content standards. These ranged from adult learning principles, to the psychology of early childhood education.
In his own words, “we have created the Learning Framework as a foundation and set of supporting guidelines to inform our work. It should be considered a dynamic document that will continue to evolve as it is used.”
Explorer Mindset Learning Framework
Over time, the educators NGS worked with picked up this framework and its attributes for their own classroom use because of the interdisciplinary nature and the seamless melding of “soft” and “hard” skills. NGS also started to contextualize and give examples of the attributes in action by linking them to our Explorers and the way they think about and do their work.
By 2021, NGS was referring to the “Explorer Mindset Learning Framework” and also developed a companion “Explorer Code” to describe NGS Explorers and their work. These were included in the NGNEXT five year strategic plan.
Explorer Mindset
In 2026, NGS simplified the framework and turned into a true mindset—one that informs the design of experiences for all NG audiences. We describe the Explorer Mindset as a way of thinking, being and acting in the world. It is a set of attributes, shared values and commitments that define what it means to be a National Geographic Explorer—but also applies to the explorer within us all, encouraging us to be curious, responsible and bold as we learn, discover and share.
Resources
Download the Explorer Mindset
Check out further resources that can help you learn about the Explorer Mindset.
