The 2010 Lowell Thomas Awards – The Explorers Club
Background of The Explorers Club
Based in New York, The Explorers Club was established in 1904 “to promote scientific exploration of land, sea, air, and space by supporting research and education in the physical, natural and biological sciences” at all corners of the globe. Aeronautical exploration, mountaineering exploits, polar expeditions to the North and South Poles and travel to the depths of the ocean floor by members have yielded an illustrious series of firsts, “First to the North Pole, first to the South Pole, first to the summit of Mount Everest, first to the deepest point in the ocean, first to the surface of the moon”.
For more information visit www.explorersclub.org which details the history and many events associated with this interesting group of explorers.
2010 Lowell Thomas Award acceptance speech by
K. Curt S. and Micheline-Nicole M. Jenner.
Photo Credit © Craig Chesek 2010.
Exploration Celebrated with Explorers Club Membership
Curt and Micheline Jenner have been researching humpback whales in Western Australia since 1990, striving to use scientific research to secure effective management of human activities within Western Australia. Combined with almost 60 research expeditions they became Fellow International Members in The Explorers Club in 2010. Curt and Micheline joined the Australia/New Zealand Chapter of The Explorers Club, one of 7 international chapters alongside nineteen US Chapters.
Important Research leading to Nomination for the Lowell Thomas Award
The ground-breaking research by Curt and Micheline on a “pocket” population of pygmy blue whales visiting the Perth Canyon, Western Australia, remanent of a globally depleted population with integral implications for their preservation, made these two explorers prime candidates for the 2010 Lowell Thomas Awards.
The Lowell Thomas Award
The famed travel journalist and broadcaster, Lowell Thomas, for whom the award is named.
The competition and awards are named for Lowell Thomas, “an acclaimed journalist, prolific author and modern-day world explorer who achieved numerous “firsts” during five decades in travel journalism. He was known as a broadcast journalist, but his career touched nearly all disciplines. His indefatigable spirit of adventure and discovery, epitomizes that of the inquiring travel journalist”, as quoted from the EC website. The first Lowell Thomas Awards were granted in 1980, celebrating the 75th year of the Explorers Club.
The Lowell Thomas Award was first granted to ten recipients in 1980 under General Exploration: The First Lowells (1980). Twelve awards were given in 1986 for Deepwater Exploration, seven in 1989 for Space and five in 1997 for Arctic Submarine Exploration and three in for Balloon Exploration and seven for Pioneering Women of Space in 1999. Annually since 2000, between four and twelve Lowell Thomas Awards are granted to Explorers Club Members under such diverse themes as Ocean Exploration, Mountaineering, The Storytellers, Digging into The Past to Benefit the Future and Exploring Earth from Above. The achievements of each individual recipient contribute to special distinction to the other recipients.
The 2010 Lowell Thomas Awards
In 2010, The Lowell Thomas Award category was Extinction – is it Forever? Curt and Micheline were one of 8 groups (10 personnel) granted The Lowell Thomas Award alongside Conservation Biologists, an Evolutionary Geologist and Cultural Preservationists for their work towards preserving species, understanding extinction events and preserving culture and language.
2010 Lowell Thomas Awardees with the President of the Explorers Club, Lorie Karnath. From left to right; John N. Hare, Linda T. Elkins, Laurie L. Marker, Lorie Karnath, Micheline-Nicole M. Jenner, Angela M. Fisher, Ian B. G. Mackenzie, Nancy L. Sullivan, Carole A. Beckwith, Peter C. Keller and K. Curt S. Jenner.
Photo Credit © Craig Chesek 2010.
The 2010 Lowell Thomas Awardees:
Carol A. Beckwith Cultural Preservation
Linda T. Elkins-Tanton, Ph.D. Evolutionary Geology
Angela M. Fisher Cultural Preservation
John N. Hare Conservation Biology
K. Curt S. Jenner Conservation Biology
Micheline-Nicole M. Jenner Conservation Biology
Peter C. Keller, Ph. D. Cultural Preservation
Ian B. G. Mackenzie Cultural Preservation
Laurie L. Marker, Ph. D. Conservation Biology
Nancy L. Sullivan, Ph.D. Cultural Preservation
Micheline-Nicole M. Jenner (centre) with her two daughters, Tasmin Jenner (left) and Micah Jenner (right).
Photo Credit © Craig Chesek 2010.
With great pride and excitement, Curt and Micheline with their daughters Micah and Tasmin were joined by Curts’ parents, sister and brother-in-law in New York for The Lowell Thomas Awards events held on Oct 23-25, 2010! At the time, Curt and Micheline were commissioning their newly purchased vessel Whale Song in Malta, so the journey across the Atlantic was very thrilling during an already exiting time. To join such acclaimed personnel on the members list was a truly unique and exhilarating experience! Knowing that 11,000 nautical miles of bouncing in a small boat had made a difference on a local and global scale was intoxifying for the Jenners’! It was hard to wipe the grins off their faces!
Conducting research with a pure motive, the implications of which become important internationally, such as recognised by this 2010 Lowell Thomas Award, is a major highlight in their professional career.
The following are photographs taken during the Presentation Evening of the 2010 Lowell Thomas Awards on October 23, 2010.
Explorers Club Members from left to right; K. Curt S. Jenner, Mary Grey, John N. Hare and Micheline-Nicole M. Jenner.
Photo Credit © Craig Chesek 2010.
2010 Lowell Thomas Awardees, K. Curt S. Jenner and John N. Hare.
Photo Credit © Craig Chesek 2010.
Official Award presenters from left to right; Peter Nicholson (Director of Communications, Rolex Watch, USA, Inc.),
K. Curt S. Jenner, Micheline-Nicole M. Jenner, Constance Difede (Vice President for Flag and Honours of the Explorers Club) and Lorie Karnath (President of the Explorers Club).
Photo Credit © Craig Chesek 2010.
Explorers Club Members, from left to right; Julie Chase (Special Director of the Explorers Club), K. Curt S. Jenner, Micheline-Nicole M. Jenner, Anne Doubilet (Member of the Board of Explorers Club Directors), Brian Hanson (Director of the Explorers Club and Explorers Club Sweeney Medalist).
Photo Credit © Craig Chesek 2010.
