Scientific Exploration Society (SES) is a UK-based charity (No. 267410) founded in 1969 by Colonel John Blashford-Snell and colleagues. A non-profit making organisation, SES leads, funds and supports scientific discovery, research and conservation in remote parts of the world offering knowledge, education and community aid.

SES ENDORSED EXPEDITIONS*

SES wishes to recognise high quality, innovative and pioneering scientific exploration by endorsing a number of expeditions annually.

We encourage applications from everyone including former SES Explorer Award winners.

Successful applications will match the aims and objectives of SES.

SES OBJECTIVES

To promote, organise or support (whether financially or otherwise) expeditions focused on scientific exploration in any of the fields of anthropology, archaeology, biodiversity, botany, economics, ecology, geography, geodesy, geology, geophysics, glaciology, psychology, history, human physiology, medicine, meteorology, sociology, topography and zoology. Expeditions will often take place in the more inaccessible and remote regions of the world and will aim to produce new scientific studies of the physical, social, economic, cultural, natural, environmental life of such regions or communities with the purpose of advancing knowledge of/research into, educational development, health and humanitarian support, medical aid and research or environmental, cultural, social awareness and support of those regions.

AIMS

• Encourage future explorers
• Provide an opportunity for SES members to participate in an expedition
• Build awareness of global challenges such as climate change, endangered species, plastic pollution and similar
• Support research
• Promote sustainability
• Contribute to preserving the environment
• Post-expedition reports are produced, detailing the scientific research undertaken, and are disseminated to relevant organisations and via SES channels, helping to raise awareness of the issues

BENEFITS

• Article in the Society’s Scientific Explorer Annual Review (Members annual magazine)
• Prestigious SES Flag to take on the expedition 
• One year’s SES Membership for expedition leaders
• Opportunity to raise expedition profile by giving an SES Explorer Talk
• Promotion via SES website, social media pages and newsletters
• Contact with an ever-expanding resource of explorers, members, friends and volunteers
• Invitation to join our 'SES Members and Friends' Facebook group that holds regular video meetings and in the future, workshops
• Associated benefits of being linked to the society

*SES members and all other participants in SES Endorsed Expeditions take part at their own risk, and will not hold SES, its trustees, employees, volunteers, partners or agents liable (whether in contract or in tort or in negligence or for breach of statutory duty or otherwise) for any loss, criminal or reputational damage, personal injury, delay or expense suffered or incurred on any such expedition. SES endorses the aims and objectives of these expeditions only.

• Any expedition endorsed by SES is endorsed in relation to the aims and objectives of the expedition only. Such endorsement does not include endorsement of any other aspect of the expedition, including but not limited to how the expedition is executed.
• Individuals participate at their own risk on any Endorsed Expedition.
• SES cannot be held responsible for any mishap to such individuals and cannot take responsibility for the consequences of strikes, war, terrorism, kidnap, sickness, death, bodily injury or mental distress, quarantine, government action or other ‘force majeure’ circumstances on any Endorsed Expedition.
• Endorsed Expeditions can involve exposure to accepted elements of risk, challenge and adventure greater than those normally encountered in everyday life.
• Endorsed Expeditions often take place in remote areas where medical or rescue facilities may not be immediately available. Individuals on an Endorsed Expedition accept such circumstances. SES accepts no responsibility for these increased risks.
• Such individuals will not hold SES, its trustees, employees, volunteers, partners or agents liable (whether in contract or in tort or in negligence or for breach of statutory duty or otherwise) for any loss, criminal or reputational damage, personal injury, delay or expense suffered or incurred by them.
• Individuals who take part in an Endorsed Expedition acknowledge that they are responsible for making themselves aware, through UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice warnings and any other sources available to them about the safety of the countries and areas in which they may be travelling and to make their decisions accordingly.
• SES expects the Endorsed Expedition Leader to have obtained all necessary consents prior to an Endorsed Expedition, maintain in force during the Endorsed Expedition adequate insurance cover with reputable insurers, and ensure that the Endorsed Expedition is conducted ethically and responsibly at all times.
• Nothing in this disclaimer shall limit or exclude SES’s liability for death or personal injury caused by its negligence.

SES welcomes applications from around the globe and is committed to equal opportunities for all, ensuring that no one is denied opportunities or discriminated against through prejudice or exclusion on the basis of race, colour or nationality, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, marital or civil partner status pregnancy and maternity, disability, religion or belief, age or any other ground on which it becomes unlawful to discriminate under the laws of England and Wales (referred to as Protected Characteristics).

Our mission is to continue to nurture and grow our community of explorers, ensuring that this community reflects and fully represents diversity, culture and differing perspectives found around the world.

COVID-19 has significantly disrupted many SES Endorsed Expeditions, however, SES is continuing to invite applications from expedition leaders who plan to go into the field when it is safe and responsible to do so.

Thank you for completing your SES Endorsed Expeditions Online Application Form.

On the next page, we will ask you to confirm that you and members of your team have no criminal convictions. Please then digitally sign and submit your application to confirm that you agree to all of our conditions and include any supporting materials such as photos/videos etc.

Please try to keep these documents a reasonable file size.

Receipt of your application will be acknowledged and it will be reviewed by the relevant SES Committee.

You will be contacted to discuss your application and if SES requires any further information.

You will be asked to complete and sign an online 'Memorandum of Understanding' form if your request is approved.
 
Order of the Council

In order to gain maximum exposure within the SES community and raise the profile of your expedition and research, we will require the following within a month of your return:

• Expedition photographs - high-resolution JPG's and must include photos with supplied SES flag
• Short Video - maximum 1 minute, supplied as MP4, summarising your expedition and referencing SES 
• Brief summary report - 200 words (maximum), supplied as a word document 
• Expedition report - at least 500 words, supplied as a word document 
• Ongoing reports related to the expedition

We will share all of the above on social media and via our newsletter and website. By signing this document you agree to these terms.

If you have any questions or difficulties completing/submitting this form, please contact me via the email address below.

SES looks forward to receiving your application and should your application be successful, we would like this to be the start of an ongoing collaboration that goes beyond the expedition for which you have requested endorsement.

Kind regards

Nikki Skinner

SES Endorsed Expeditions Manager

nikki@ses-explore.org

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