Story Highlight
– Rolex becomes Founding Donor of National Geographic Base Camp.
– New Base Camp showcases immersive exhibitions for the public.
– Rolex’s partnership with National Geographic spans over 70 years.
– Collaboration enhances climate change research through Perpetual Planet.
– Annual Explorer of the Year award recognizes outstanding achievements.
Full Story
Rolex has officially taken a significant step in its enduring collaboration with the National Geographic Society by becoming a Founding Donor of the revamped Base Camp headquarters in Washington, D.C., as well as a Grand Opening Partner for the new Museum of Exploration.
The redesigned Base Camp is poised to be a central hub for National Geographic Explorers, opening its facilities to the public. Visitors can expect to engage with immersive exhibitions and interactive displays, including the Rolex Explorers Landing, which pays tribute to groundbreaking expeditions and the explorers involved in them.
This announcement marks the continuation of a partnership that has lasted over seven decades. Rolex’s commitment to exploration dates back to the 1930s, and the brand is well-known for supplying equipment for the 1953 expedition that led to Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s historic ascent of Mount Everest. National Geographic documented this monumental achievement the following year, establishing a foundation for their collaboration focused on exploration, innovation, and scientific inquiry.
In 2019, the relationship was further solidified when Rolex became integral to the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, which finances long-term scientific expeditions aimed at studying climate change in various ecosystems, including mountains, rainforests, and marine environments.
“National Geographic and Rolex have been partners for more than 70 years now. We share an underlying drive to explore and innovate,” remarked Ian Miller, Chief Science and Innovation Officer at the National Geographic Society.
Rolex Explorers Landing will provide a journey through four distinct thematic areas: Spark, Trek, Purpose, and Impact. These sections chart the voyage from an explorer’s initial concept to the enduring influence of their discoveries. Notable exhibits will feature artefacts from significant expeditions, such as the pressurised diving suit worn by Rolex Testimonee Sylvia Earle during her unprecedented untethered sea walk in 1979. The exhibition will also include the Perpetual Planet Expeditions Reader Rail, which offers near real-time updates on ongoing scientific research.
“There is something very powerful about creating a space where exploration becomes real for people,” said Arnaud Boetsch, Director of Communication and Image at Rolex SA. “We are grateful to the National Geographic Society for its partnership and shared dedication to advancing exploration.”
The Perpetual Planet Expeditions programme exemplifies the ongoing collaboration between Rolex and National Geographic, supporting extended scientific missions that document climate change in some of the most vulnerable regions worldwide, including Mount Everest and the Amazon Basin. These efforts are complemented by partnerships with local communities to develop conservation initiatives.
Additionally, the collaboration acknowledges outstanding scientific achievements through the annual Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year award. This year, Krithi K. Karanth received the honour for her significant contributions to alleviating human-wildlife conflict in India, through an educational programme that has benefited over 50,000 children.
