A Motswana geoscientist, Goabaone Jaqueline Ramatlapeng has been named among fifteen new recipients of the 2023 Wayfinder Awards announced by the National Geographic Society recently.
Wayfinder Award recipients are individuals who have proven themselves to be the next generation of influential leaders, communicators, and innovators whose critical work inspires us to learn about, care for, and protect the wonder of our world.
Their groundbreaking work covers a vast array of impact-driven projects including connecting youth to the ocean, using innovative technology to track insects across landscapes, investigating critical environmental stories, and developing equitable conservation solutions for poor communities. Ramatlapeng is geoscientist investigating the processes controlling the water chemistry of the Okavango Delta in Botswana.
She is also the founder of a writing platform where she provides research, academic, and professional development support to African university students and professionals in STEM.
Chief explorer engagement officer at the National Geographic Society, Alexander Moen said the individuals are rewarded for their exceptional contributions.
“On behalf of the National Geographic Society, we’re proud to name these 15 trailblazers as 2023 Wayfinder Award recipients for their exceptional contributions on a local and global scale,” Moen said.
“We’re thrilled to celebrate each of these individuals at Base Camp headquarters in June for our annual Explorers Festival where we’ll recognize their remarkable achievements that bring our mission to life.”
The Wayfinder Award recipients join the Society’s global community of National Geographic Explorers and each receive a monetary prize to support their work.
