Explorers

Fellows

The WINGS Women of Discovery Fellowship is a distinct honor awarded to some of the highest achieving women in science, exploration and conservation. In recognition for joining this elite group, new Fellows receive an unrestricted grant to amplify their work and become part of a global network of women in STEM. They are celebrated at our annual Women of Discovery Awards Gala held in New York City each October.
Learn more about our 2025 Women of Discovery Awards Celebration.

Flag Carriers

WINGS Flag Carriers conduct original field research, carrying with them a flag bearing its own unique number; forever linked to heroic past global projects and discoveries. Our flags have flown over 80 countries, all continents and both poles. Grant funding is awarded to financially support the project, and original Flag Reports are published upon completion to share their discoveries.

Maria Tzortziou

2023 Flag Carrier

In May-June 2023, Environmental scientist and explorer Maria Tzortziou (Flag #37) traveled to Alaska’s west coast ‒ one of the most productive areas for Alaska...

Cédrique Solofondranohatra

2023 Flag Carrier

Cédrique is a plant biologist and ecologist researching the effect of cricket frass fertilizer on the growth and survival of seedlings in Madagascar palms. She...

Photos courtesy of Jessica Ware

Dr. Jessica Ware

2024 Fellow

Dr. Jessica Ware is a full curator at the American Museum of Natural History where she serves as Chair of the Division of Invertebrate Zoology. Dr. Ware’s...

Photo credit: James Sherwood, Photo credit: Bluebottle Films

Prof Adriana Vergés

2024 Fellow

Adriana Vergés is a marine ecologist whose research focuses on the ecology and conservation of coastal marine habitats. In particular, her team investigates the ecological...

Photo credit: Elias Condori, Photo credit: Andrew Whitworth

Ruthmery Pillco

2024 Fellow

Ruthmery Pillco is a Peruvian biologist who works on conservation and biodiversity projects in the rainforests of Costa Rica and Peru. In Costa Rica, she...

Photo credit: João Marcos Rosa

Dr. Patricia Medici

2024 Fellow

Dr. Patricia Medici is a Brazilian conservationist whose main professional interests are tapir conservation, tropical forest conservation, landscape ecology, and communication. Patrícia has a Bachelor’s...

Photos courtesy of Paula Kahumbu

Dr. Paula Kahumbu

2024 Fellow

Dr. Paula Kahumbu is a prominent Kenyan conservationist and the CEO of WildlifeDirect. She earned her Ph.D. from Princeton University, focusing on Ecology and Evolutionary...

Rocío López

2023 Flag Carrier

Rocío López: A Geoarchaeological Approach to the Materiality and Historical Ecology of Earth Mounds in Uruguay Rocío López is a geoarchaeologist currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Anthropology...

Dr. Ulyana Horodyskyj Peña

2025 Flag Carrier

Glaciologist, geologist, and mountaineer Dr. Ulyana Horodyskyj Peña is the head of communications for the University of Colorado Boulder’s Climate Adaptation Science Center. Her research...

Fiona Ogutu

2023 Flag Carrier

Obtaining her Ph.D. at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Fiona is carrying Flag #34 to Lake Victoria Basin, Kenya, to assess the bioaccumulation and biomagnification...

Sunniva Sorby and Hilde Strom

2023 Flag Carrier

Co-founders of Hearts in the Ice Sunniva Sorby and Hilde Falun Strom are returning to the Arctic with Flag #14. Dedicated to conservation, polar exploration,...

Grace Alawa

2024 Flag Carrier

Wildlife and biodiversity conservationist Grace Alawa is carrying Flag #42 to Andoni Island in Rivers State, Nigeria. The goal of her expedition is to understand...

Three Otters Media

2024 Flag Carrier

Tiffany Duong, Aya Walraven, and Dr. Louise Edwards have come together to create Three Otters Media (TOM), which leverages virtual reality and immersive technologies to...

Alifa Haque

2023 Fellow

Dr. Alifa Bintha Haque is a marine biologist and ethno-conservationist focused on conserving sharks and rays in the global south context. Her research covers sustainable...

Elizabeth Bennett

2006 Fellow

Elizabeth (Liz) Bennett is the Vice President for Species Conservation at WCS. She conducted the first ever detailed field study of the proboscis monkey in...

Attend an
Event

Partner
with Us

Donate
Now