Honorary Members
Honorary Members Honorary Membership is awarded to individuals who have rendered lifelong services in the field of exploration. Limited to 20 living members at any one time; presented in order of election. See the Awardees
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Honorary Members

Honorary Members
1912
Prince Luigi Amedeo Capt. Roald Amundsen Adolph F. A. Bandelier Dr. Sven Hedin Sir Harry Johnston, GCMG, KCB Dr. Fridtjof Nansen Otto Nordenskjold, Ph.D. Adm. Robert Edwin Peary Capt. Robert Falcon Scott Sir Ernest H. Shackleton, CVO, OBE
1914
Capt. Robert A. Bartlett Amos Bonsall Francis Long Adm. Lord Edward R.G. Mountevans Adm. Francis Younghusband, D.Sc.
1916
Sir Douglas Mawson, OBE, FAA, FRS President Theodore Roosevelt
1921
Albert I, Prince of Monaco
1922
Maj. Gen. Adolphus W. Greely
1925
Gen. Candido Mariano da Silva Rondon Col. Thomas H. Holdich, D.Sc. Knud Rasmussen, Ph.D. Sir Aurel Stein, KCIE, FBA, Ph.D.
1927
Adm. Richard Evelyn Byrd Lt. Cdr. Lincoln Ellsworth
1932
Roy Chapman Andrews, Sc.D. Brig. Gen. David L. Brainard Frederick S. Dellenbaugh Brig. Gen. Charles A. Lindbergh Vilhjalmur Stefansson, Ph.D. Bertram Thomas Sir George Hubert Wilkins, MC & Bar
1935
Dr. Hugo Eckener George Bird Grinnell, Ph.D. Henry Fairfield Osborn, Sc.D.
1939
Dr. Frank M. Chapman Dr. Walter Granger Dr. Otto Y. Schmidt
1944
Isaiah Bowman, Ph.D.
1949
William Beebe, Sc.D. Matthew A. Henson Herbert J. Spinden, Ph.D.
1950
Col. Bernt Balchen Charles P. Berkey, Ph.D.
1951
James P. Chapin, Ph.D.
1954
Sir Edmund P. Hillary, KG, ONZ, KBE Lord Henry Cecil John Hunt, KG, CBE, DSO Sherpa Tenzing Norgay
1957
Sir R. Charles Evans, M.D. Dr. Jean F. Piccard John Tee-Van, D.Sc. Edward M. Weyer Jr., Ph.D.
1961
Michael James Leahy
1962
Senator John Glenn
1965
Donald W. Douglas Charles B. Hitchcock, Sc.D. Dr. Serge A. Korff
1971
Dr. Leonard J. Brass Dr. Rene L. A. Catala Louis J. DeMilhau, Esq. Col. Charles Wellington Furlong John C. Pallister Dillon S. Ripley, II, Ph.D.
1978
W. Douglas Burden Fairfield Osborn, D.Sc. Hobart M. Van Deusen
1981
H.R.H. Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh Carl L. Hubbs, Ph.D.
1983
Capt. Robert L. Crippen USN (Ret.) * Cmdr. Irving Johnson Paul B. MacCready, Ph.D. Capt. John W. Young USN (Ret.)
1984
Eric W. Morse Sally K. Ride, Ph.D. George B. Schaller, Ph.D. * Brig. Gen. Charles E. Yeager
1986
Raymond Dart, D.Sc. Norman Dyhrenfurth Col. Joseph W. Kittinger Jr., USAF (Ret.) * Maharana Raj Pratap Sinhji of Wankaner
1989
Reinhold Messner *
1993
Wilfred Thesiger
1997
Walter Cronkite Sylvia A. Earle, Ph.D. * Don Walsh, Ph.D. *
2001
Daniel S. Goldin *
2003
Capt. William Robert Anderson USN George Bass Robert L. Fisher, Ph.D. * Jim Whittaker *
2004
Wade Davis * Edward O. Wilson, Ph.D. *
2005
James Watson *
2009
James M. Fowler
2012
Kathryn D. Sullivan, Ph.D. *
2018
Brig. Gen. Charles M. Duke, USAF (Ret.) * Capt. James A. Lovell, USN (Ret.) * Col. Buzz Aldrin, Ph.D., USAF (Ret.) *
2021
Sir Ranulph Fiennes, OBE *
The Explorers Medal
The Explorers Medal The Explorers Medal is the Club’s highest honor. Awarded annually, it recognizes individuals for their extraordinary contributions directly in the field of exploration, scientific research, or to the welfare of humanity. See the Awardees
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The Explorers Medal

The Explorers Medal
1914
Adm. Robert E. Peary
1917
William Curtis Farabee, Ph.D.
1918
Vilhjalmur Stefansson, Ph.D.
1919
Gen. Candido Mariano da Silva Rondon
1923
Maj. Gen. Adolphus W. Greely
1925
Capt. Lowell H. Smith
1926
Knud Rasmussen, Ph.D.
1927
Capt. Roald Amundsen
1927
Capt. Robert A. Bartlett
1927
Dr. Fridtjof Nansen
1929
Brig. Gen. David L. Brainard
1932
Roy Chapman Andrews, Sc.D.
1936
Lt. Cdr. Lincoln Ellsworth
1937
Adm. Richard E. Byrd
1940
Sir Hubert Wilkins, MC & Bar
1950
Isaiah Bowman, Ph.D.
1951
Col. Bernt Balchen
1953
James Chapin, Ph.D.
1953
Adm. Donald B. MacMillan
1954
Lord John Hunt
1954
Dr. Auguste Piccard
1957
Laurence McKinley Gould, Sc.D.
1959
Sir Vivian Fuchs, FRS, Ph.D. for the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition
1961
President Herbert Hoover
1962
Alexander Wetmore, Ph.D.
1963
Dr. William H. Phelps, Jr.
1964
Gilbert H. Grosvenor, Sc.D.
1965
Gen. James H. Doolittle
1966
Robert Cushman Murphy
1967
Charles B. Hitchcock, Sc.D.
1968
Capt. Finn Ronne
1968
Lowell Thomas
1969
William B.O. Field, Jr., Sc.D.
1970
Capt. Julius M. Amberson, M.D.
1971
Michael J. Leahy
1971
Neil Armstrong, Col. Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, Jr., USAF, D.Sc. & Maj. Gen. Michael Collins, USAF (Ret.) for NASA
1972
Walter A. Wood, Sc.D.
1973
Dr. Serge A. Korff
1974
Roger Tory Peterson, Sc.D.
1975
Junius B. Bird, Sc.D.
1976
Edward M. Weyer, Jr., Ph.D.
1977
Lewis N. Cotlow
1978
Maj. Gen. Leigh Wade
1979
Thor Heyerdahl, Ph.D.
1980
Willard N. Bascom
1981
Capt. Carl Von Hoffman, Ph.D.
1982
Virgil Kauffman
1983
Sir Ranulph Fiennes, OBE for Transglobe Expedition
1984
H. Bradford Washburn, Jr., Ph.D.
1985
Sir Wally Herbert, KBE
1986
Sir Edmund P. Hillary, KG, ONZ, KBE
1987
Barry C. Bishop, Ph.D.
1988
Gilbert M. Grosvenor for National Geographic Society
1989
Dr. Mary Leakey for the Leakey Family
1990
George B. Schaller, Ph.D.
1991
William J. L. Sladen, Ph.D.
1992
Prof. Heinrich Harrer
1993
Jane Goodall, CBE, Ph.D.
1994
James M. Fowler
1995
Robert D. Ballard, Ph.D.
1996
Sylvia A. Earle, Ph.D.
1997
Anna C. Roosevelt, Ph.D.
1998
Prof. Ardito Desio
1999
Norman D. Vaughan
2000
The Piccard Family
2001
Col. Joseph W. Kittinger, USAF (Ret.)
2001
Don Walsh, Ph.D.
2002
Johan Reinhard, Ph.D.
2003
Steve Fossett
2004
David K. Hempleman-Adams, LVO, OBE
2005
Burt Rutan, Brian Binnie, and Michael Melvill for SpaceShipOne
2006
J. Michael Fay, Ph.D.
2007
Kathryn D. Sullivan, Ph.D.
2008
Eugenie Clark, Ph.D.
2009
Lee M. Talbot, Ph.D.
2009
Edward O. Wilson, Ph.D.
2010
Donald C. Johanson, Ph.D.
2011
Wade Davis, Ph.D.
2012
Philip J. Currie, Ph.D.,
2012
Alfred S. McLaren, Ph.D.
2013
James Cameron
2014
Walter H. Munk, Ph.D.
2015
Neil deGrasse Tyson, Ph.D.
2016
Frederick Roots, O.C., Ph.D.
2017
André Borschberg, Bertrand Piccard, M.D., and Nainoa Thompson
2018
Captain James A. Lovell
2019
Kenneth Lacovara, Ph.D.
2020
Victor L. Vescovo
The Sweeney Medal
The Sweeney Medal The Edward C. Sweeney Medal is awarded annually to a member of the Club having exhibited by his or her work and actions outstanding interest in the welfare and objectives of The Explorers Club. See the Awardees
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The Sweeney Medal

The Sweeney Medal
1968
Dr. Matthew W. Stirling
1969
Capt. Elliott B. Roberts
1970
Max C. Brewer, D.Sc.
1970
George R. Wallace, Sr.
1971
Ward Randol, Sr.
1973
Oshin Agathon, D.Sc.
1974
Richard Steel, Esq.
1975
Russell H. Gurnee
1976
Earl R. Allyn
1977
Carl R. Walston
1978
Melville P. Cummin
1979
Nicholas Sullivan, FSC, Ph.D.
1980
Kenhelm W. Stott, Jr.
1981
Henry S. Evans
1982
Horace F. Byrne
1983
Charles F. Brush, Ph.D.
1984
Rolf K. Lamborn
1985
John C. D. Bruno
1986
Joseph M. Lubart, M.D.
1987
George V. B. Cochran, M.D.
1988
Col. Gerry W. Bass
1989
Erwin Streisinger
1990
Douglas M. Crow
1990
Hal P. Delmuth
1991
Col. William H. Dribben, USA (Ret.)
1992
Col. J. N. Blashford-Snell, OBE
1993
Charles W. Webb, Jr.
1994
Rita W. Mathews, Ph.D.
1995
Jack B. Townshend
1996
John W. Flint
1997
Arnold H. Neis
1998
Robert E. Pearlman
1999
Ira Haupt, II
2000
Hugh O’Neill
2001
Jonathan M. Conrad
2002
James K. Smyth
2003
Brian Peyton Hanson
2004
Michael J. Manyak, M.D.
2005
Max Gallimore
2006
John T. Reilly, Ph.D.
2007
Kathryn Kiplinger
2008
Catherine Nixon Cooke
2009
Scott W. Hamilton
2010
Prof. Mabel L. Purkerson, M.D.
2011
Harry D. Brooks, Esq.
2012
Julianne M. Chase, Ph.D.
2013
Monika Rogozińska
2014
Patrick & Rosemarie Keough
2015
Bruce Blanchard
2016
Constance Difede
2017
Leon “Lee” V. Langan
2018
David Dolan
2019
Milbry Polk
2020
George W. Gowan, Esq.
Citation of Merit
Citation of Merit The Citation of Merit is awarded annually to an individual or team in recognition of outstanding feats of exploration or contributions to the welfare and objectives of the Club. See the Awardees
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Citation of Merit

Citation of Merit
1962
James Edwin Webb
1963
Capt. Finn Ronne
1964
American Mount Everest Expedition
1965
Peter Grimm
1966
Capt. Elliot B. Roberts
1967
William H. Pickering, Ph.D.
1969
Ward Randol, Sr.
1970
Stanley Haas
1970
Roger A. Steward
1977
Kenhelm W. Stott, Jr.
1980
Arnold H. Haverlee
1982
Naomi Uemura
1983
R. Marlin Perkins, D.Sc.
1984
Anne LaBastille, Ph.D.
1985
George J. Race, M.D., Ph.D.
1986
Robert D. Ballard, Ph.D.
1987
Paul Shurke
1987
William R. Steger
1987
Robert C. Swan
1988
John E. Yellen
1989
Nigel N. Winser
1990
David Western
1991
Lord Robert S.T. Chorley
1992
Capt. Charles A. Burroughs
1994
Brian Peyton Hanson
1995
Paul A. Mayewski, Ph.D.
1996
Lawson W. Brigham, Ph.D.
1997
Gilbert M. Grosvenor
1997
John Hemming, CMG
1998
Glenn E. Porzak
1999
Airborne Antarctic Ozone Team
2000
Michael Finlay
2001
Holly Williams
2002
Rosemarie W. Twinam
2003
John T. Reilly, Ph.D.
2004
Monika M. Rogozinska
2005
Theodore M. Siouris
2006
Lt.(N) Joseph G. Frey, C.D.
2007
Students on Ice (accepted by Geoff Green)
2008
Capt. Timothy F. Taylor
2009
Rev. David A. Dolan
2010
James M. Chester
2011
Peter H. Raven, Ph.D.
2011
Merle G. Robertson, Ph.D.
2012
Frederick P. Selby
2012
Susan D. Shaw, Dr.P.H.
2013
Erden Eruç
2013
Christos Nicola
2014
The Apollo F-1 Engine Search and Recovery Team
2015
Mandip Singh Soin
2015
C. William Steele
2016
Edmundo R. Edwards
2017
George Basch
2018
Edith A. Widder, Ph.D.
2019
Michael Eliot Barth & the Roy Chapman Andrews Centennial Expedition Team
2020
The Five Deeps Expedition Team
The Lowell Thomas Award
The Lowell Thomas Award Named for broadcast journalist and explorer Lowell Thomas, this annual award is given thematically to a group of outstanding explorers to recognize excellence in domains or fields of exploration. See the Awardees
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The Lowell Thomas Award

The Lowell Thomas Award
General Exploration: The First Lowells
1980
Kris Anderson Maxie Anderson Isaac Asimov Sylvia A. Earle Edgar D. Mitchell Dan Rather J. Louis Reynolds Carl Sagan Henry W. Taft Lowell Thomas
Deepwater Exploration
1986
Robert D. Ballard George F. Bass Eugenie Clark Clive E. Cussler Andre Galerne Peter R. Gimbel Ian G. Koblick Emory K. Kristof R. Duncan Mathewson, III Jean-Louis Michel Dimitri Rebikoff Don Walsh
Space Exploration
1989
Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, Jr. M. Scott Carpenter Michael Collins Charles (Pete) Conrad, Jr. James A. Lovell Walter M. Schirra, Jr. Kathryn D. Sullivan
Arctic Submarine Exploration
1997
Capt. William R. Anderson VADM James Calvert Waldo K. Lyon John H. Nicholson George P. Steele
Balloon Exploration
Mar 1999
Donald Cameron Brian Jones Bertrand Piccard
Pioneering Women of Space
Dec 1999
Mary L. Cleave Bonnie J. Dunbar Mae C. Jemison Tamara E. Jernigan M. Rhea Seddon Kathryn D. Sullivan Kathryn R.C. Thornton
Ocean Exploration
2000
Rita R. Colwell Jean-Michel Cousteau David Doubilet Evelyn J. Fields Alfred Scott McLaren Theophil “Phil” Nuytten Sir John Rawlins Andreas B. Rechnitzer Anatoly Sagalevitch Lawrence A. Shumaker Edward B. “Teddy” Tucker Ralph B. White
Mountaineering
2001
Sir Edmund P. Hillary Edward Viesturs Barbara Washburn H. Bradford Washburn, Jr. Krzysztof S. Wielicki
The Storytellers
2002
Wade Davis Jerri L. Nielsen Chris Rainier Simon Winchester
The Future of Exploration: A Global Challenge
2003
Brent Bishop Bjørn Heyerdahl Peter E. Hillary Louise Leakey Scott Lindgren David Stuart
Champions of Conservation
2004
William A. Burnham Gary C. Comer Stefanie Powers Alan Rabinowitz Edward O. Wilson
Digging Into the Past to Benefit the Future
2005
Larry D. Agenbroad Barry L. Clifford Michael J. Novacek Richard B. Potts Patricia Sutherland
Discoveries in the Treetops
2006
M. Soubadra Devy Francis Hallé Margaret D. Lowman Mark W. Moffett Brian A. Rosborough
Exploring Climate Change
2007
Richard A. Feely W. Berry Lyons Paul A. Mayewski Julie M. Palais Adam Ravetch Sarah Robertson Susan Solomon William R. Steger
Exploring Earth From Above
2008
William A. Anders Leroy Chiao John King & Martha R. King Scott E. Parazynski Dick H. Smith Charles E. Yeager
Exploring Risk
2009
Bob A. Barth Yvon Chouinard Kenneth M. Kamler Arthur D. Mortvedt James M. Williams Richard B. Wilson
Exploring Extinction
2010
Carol A. Beckwith Linda T. Elkins-Tanton Angela M. Fisher John N. Hare Curt S. Jenner Micheline-Nicole M. Jenner Peter C. Keller Ian B. G. Mackenzie Laurie L. Marker Nancy L. Sullivan
Exploring the World’s Greatest Mysteries
2011
Claudio P. Cristino Edmundo R. Edwards Thomas E. Levy Albert Yu-Min Lin Brent S. Stewart William C. Stone Patricia Vargas Kenneth R. Wright Ruth M. Wright
Mindfulness: the Ultimate Tool in Exploration
2012
Sir David Attenborough David Hempleman-Adams William Thomas Scott Wallace
Justice: Field Exploration as a Splendid Exchange
2013
S. Allen Counter Lale Lubuko and John Rowe Enric Sala Martha Talbot Ted Turner
Imagination in Exploration
2014
Sheldon Breiner G. Chris Fischer David G. Gallo Rosaly M.C. Lopes Frederik D.A. Paulsen Edward P. Roski Jr.
Visionaries of Conservation: Paradigm Shifts in Protecting the Planet
2015
Mark Edward Hay Robert Glenn Ketchum Federico M. Lauro George Van Nostrand Powell Anne Savage Gary A. Strobel
Celebrating the Legacy of Open Spaces
2016
Laly Lichtenfeld Rick Ridgeway Kristine McDivitt Tompkins Martin von Hildebrand
The Changing Face of the Arctic
2017
HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco Donn Haglund Martin T. Nweeia Konrad Steffen
Engineering Exploration
2018
Peter Girguis Dava Newman Sarah Parcak Alan Stern Rainer Weiss
Exploring 21st Century Frontiers
2019
Robert L. Fisher David L. Mearns Bruce F. Molnia Joseph M. Rohde Ellen R. Stofan
The Legendary Explorer Medal
The Legendary Explorer Medal The Legendary Explorer is awarded to recognize a feat of such courage and incredible accomplishment that has transcended the ordinary bounds of history. See the Awardees
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The Legendary Explorer Medal

The Legendary Explorer Medal
2013
Scott Carpenter, USN (ret.)
2013
Senator John Glenn, USMC (ret.)
2020
Jane Goodall, DBE, Ph.D.
The Finn Ronne Memorial Award
The Finn Ronne Memorial Award The Finn Ronne Memorial Award is awarded quadrennially to an individual noted for accomplishments in polar field research that best typify the spirit of Explorer Finn Ronne. See the Awardees
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The Finn Ronne Memorial Award

The Finn Ronne Memorial Award
1985
Sir Wally Herbert, KBE
1991
Monica Kristensen, Ph.D.
1998
William R. Steger
2003
Capt. William R. Anderson, USN
2007
Gerald L. Kooyman, Ph.D.
2011
Polly A. Penhale, Ph.D.
2015
David K. Hempleman-Adams, LVO, OBE
2019
Dr. James McClintock
The Buzz Aldrin Space Exploration Award
The Buzz Aldrin Space Exploration Award The Buzz Aldrin Space Exploration Award is awarded quadrennially to an individual noted for accomplishments in exploration of outer space that best typify the spirit of explorer Buzz Aldrin. See the Awardees
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The Buzz Aldrin Space Exploration Award

The Buzz Aldrin Space Exploration Award
1999
F. Story Musgrave, M.D., Ph.D.
2006
Maj. Gen. Valentina Tereshkova
2010
Steve W. Squyres, Ph.D.
2014
Maria T. Zuber, Ph.D.
2014
Franklin R. Chang-Diaz, Ph.D.
2018
Jeff Bezos
The Tenzing Norgay Award
The Tenzing Norgay Award The Tenzing Norgay Award is awarded to an individual who has demonstrated exceptional mountaineering in the spirit of the famed sherpa Tenzing Norgay, one of the two first men to summit Mount Everest in 1953. See the Awardees
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The Tenzing Norgay Award

The Tenzing Norgay Award
1987
Sharon Wood
1988
Norman G. Dhyrenfurth
2000
Apa Sherpa
2005
Peter Athans
2009
Peter E. Hillary
2013
Chhiring Dorje Sherpa
2017
Pasang Lhamu Sherpa
The William Beebe Award
The William Beebe Award The William Beebe Award is awarded to an individual who has made exceptional contributions to underwater exploration. See the Awardees
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The William Beebe Award

The William Beebe Award
2004
Graham S. Hawkes
2008
Anatoly M. Sagalevitch, D.Sc
2012
R. T. (Phil) Nuytten, OBC, D.Sc. (hon.), L.L.D. (hon.)
2016
Joe MacInnes, Ph.D.
2020
Jill Heinerth
The President’s Award
The President’s Award The President’s Awards are special honors given to individuals, teams, sponsors or institutions for incredible accomplishments in the field, or for support of the Club and its mission. See the Awardees
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The President’s Award

The President’s Award
The President’s Award for Conservation
2006
Tim W. Gallagher
2006
Bobby R. Harrison
2006
Gene M. Sparling
The President’s Award for Heroism and Altruism
1999
Kenneth M. Kamler, M.D.
2008
Capt. Meagan McGrath
The President’s Medal for Distinguished Service
1999
Ellen S. Brush, Ph.D.
2012
George W. Gowen Esq.
2012
Benjamin H. Hulsey Esq.
2012
Mark S. Kassner
The Explorers Club Corporate Award for Support of Exploration
1997
Rolex Watch, USA
1997
W.L. Gore and Associates
1998
Discovery Networks
2001
NASA (Daniel S. Goldin)
2002
National Geographic Society (John M. Fahey)
The Explorers Club Institutional Support for Exploration
1999
Smithsonian Institution
2000
National Science Foundation
The President’s Award for Exploration & Technology
2014
Elon Musk
The Explorers Club Communication Award
The Explorers Club Communication Award The Explorers Club Communication Award is awarded in recognition of outstanding individual efforts to promote and communicate conservation awareness. See the Awardees
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The Explorers Club Communication Award

The Explorers Club Communication Award
1990
Ted Turner
1993
Sigourney Weaver
1995
Walter Cronkite
1997
George Page
1997
Marjory S. Douglas
2001
Sir Arthur C. Clarke, CBE
2003
James Cameron
2006
Luc Jaquet
2009
Clive E. Cussler, Ph.D.
2011
Morton P. Beebe
2012
Richard Ellis
The New Explorer Award
The New Explorer Award The New Explorer Award is granted to inspiring young explorers, in the fields of physical, biological, and natural sciences, engineering, and resource conservation, whose work of exploration serves to broaden knowledge of all phases of the universe. See the Awardees
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The New Explorer Award

The New Explorer Award
2017
Sophie Hollingsworth
2018
Gino Caspari Ph.D. Trevor Wallace
2019
Ian Mangiardi
2020
Caesar Rahman