It’s hard to believe 2025 is drawing to a close. This has been an eventful year for the WINGS community, from Explorer Talks to our partnership with the OceanTech Summit to our annual Gala and Forum. As we look ahead to 2026, we’re grateful for your support of WINGS and women in science, conservation, and exploration.
In February, we hosted an Explorer Talk in NYC with Flag Carrier Dominique Gonçalves on “Living with Giants: Gorongosa Elephants’ Recovery and Challenges,” in which she led the audience through the story of the fall and recovery of the Gorongosa elephant population and its impacts in the social-ecological system of one of the most successful restoration efforts in Africa.
In June, WINGS served as a proud sponsor of the second-annual NYC OceanTech Summit, which brought together innovators, entrepreneurs, and researchers shaping the future of ocean technology. The event was co-organized by WINGS Associate Board co-chair Caroline Williams, who also curated a panel on “Data and the Ocean,” while WINGS Flag Carrier Grace Cordsen (also an Associate Board Explorer In Residence) presented on “The Future of Tourism, Conservation, and Climate Storytelling in the Arctic and Antarctica.” I had the pleasure of delivering the event’s keynote address, sharing how WINGS supports women scientists, conservationists, and explorers who are developing innovative solutions in OceanTech.
In September, Flag Carrier Callie Veelenturf presented her Explorer Talk, “Sea Turtle Conservation and the Rights of Nature,” to an audience in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Callie spoke about her critical work protecting Leatherback Sea Turtles and other marine life from extinction, in collaboration with local scientists and community members across continents.
October saw our celebration of this year’s WINGS Fellows at the Women of Discovery Awards Gala on the 9th, followed by our Global Explorers Forum on the 11th. We had a wonderful time with so many of you at both events, and we were proud to have 18 Explorers share their groundbreaking work at this year’s Forum. Beyond adding four new Fellows to the WINGS network this year, we supported 25 Flag Carriers on expeditions across six continents.
We accomplished all of this amid a very challenging fundraising environment. Throughout the year, we continued to hear stories from members of the WINGS Explorer community about the loss of critical funding for their work. These cuts are affecting Explorers across all disciplines, and their impact on future work is likely to be devastating.
But there’s good news: Together, we can create the change we want to see in the world. We deeply appreciate all of you for being part of our journey, and we look forward to continuing our impact in 2026 and beyond!
Yours in Exploration,
Meredith Ayan
Explorer Feature: Emily Sperou
WINGS Flag Carrier Emily Sperou is currently stationed at St. Kliment Ohridski Base on the Western Antarctic Peninsula, conducting groundbreaking research on one of Antarctica’s most mysterious apex predators: the leopard seal. Despite their prominence in popular culture as the “scary seal” of Antarctic waters, remarkably little is known about leopard seal biology, including whether they require sea ice for survival, how they move between populations, or even their basic lifespan. Emily’s expedition represents the first scientific effort to study and sample leopard seals in this critical region—an area where these seals occur at higher densities than anywhere else on Earth, yet remain virtually unstudied. Her work fills a crucial gap in understanding how these top predators are responding to one of the fastest-changing environments on the planet.
As part of a large international collaboration spanning institutions across six continents, Emily is collecting photographs, drone imagery, and biological samples (hair, skin, and blubber) to assess the adaptive capacity of leopard seals across the Southern Ocean. The data she gathers will be integrated into a species-wide dataset examining dispersal patterns, genetic diversity, diet, and stress responses—essential information for predicting how leopard seals will cope with environmental changes like ice loss and rising temperatures. This research represents a critical step toward evidence-based conservation in a region where baseline data has been sorely lacking.
The implications of this expedition extend far beyond scientific discovery. Leopard seals have historically been excluded from Marine Protected Area (MPA) planning in Antarctica, unlike other iconic predators. Emily’s work will provide the foundational data needed to include leopard seals in future conservation efforts, including the proposed Western Antarctic Peninsula MPA. Through open-access data sharing platforms like HappyWhale and public outreach, this project ensures that its scientific benefits reach well beyond the expedition itself. In a rapidly changing climate, understanding the resilience of species like the leopard seal isn’t just important—it’s essential for shaping the future of Antarctic conservation and maintaining the biodiversity of the Southern Ocean.
Need a last-minute holiday gift? Pick up one of these Explorer books
Looking for a holiday gift to will inspire the current or aspiring explorers in your life? Read on for a list of books authored by WINGS Explorers, on topics from gorilla conservation to building Egypt’s pyramids to taking a trip to Mars.
Walking with Gorillas by Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka
In this inspiring memoir, 2011 WINGS Fellow Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka—Uganda’s first wildlife veterinarian—chronicles her groundbreaking journey from an animal-loving childhood marked by personal tragedy to becoming a pioneering conservationist who developed innovative integrated approaches that protect both endangered mountain gorillas and their human neighbors. Through her award-winning work in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Gladys demonstrates how sustainable conservation depends on improving the health and wellbeing of both wildlife and local communities. Her story offers a powerful testament to how one woman’s passion and determination can overcome discrimination and create transformative change for both people and planet.
Soaring Stones by Maureen Clemmons and Dan Cray
In this captivating true story, innovation expert and 2009 WINGS Fellow Maureen Clemmons challenges the academic establishment by demonstrating that ancient Egyptians could have used kites and wind power to lift massive obelisks and pyramid stones—a theory she proves through a decade of field tests, culminating in a dramatic attempt to lift a sixteen-ton megalith for the History Channel. Despite facing skepticism from Egyptologists who were reluctant to consider evidence from outside their field, Clemmons perseveres with grassroots support and a Caltech aeronautics team, ultimately proving that groundbreaking science doesn’t always require a degree, just an inspired idea and passionate determination.
No Horizon is So Far by Liv Arnesen and Ann Bancroft with Cheryl Dahle
This gripping chronicle follows explorers and 2009 WINGS Fellows Liv Arnesen and Ann Bancroft as they became the first two women to cross Antarctica, enduring nearly three months of walking, skiing, and ice-sailing across 1,700 miles of treacherous ice in extreme conditions while towing 250-pound sledges. The two former schoolteachers shared their journey in real-time with over three million students in sixty-five countries, using their historic expedition to teach geography, science, and the power of pursuing your dreams.
Hope by Cristina Mittermeier and Robert Redford
In a new, stunning bilingual visual manifesto, photographer and marine biologist Cristina Mittermeier, a 2023 WINGS Fellow, shares meaningful stories from her work across 130 countries and every continent, celebrating Earth’s biodiversity while honoring indigenous wisdom and the interconnected relationships between humanity and nature. Through radiant photography spanning six thematic sections—from ocean depths and Arctic glaciers to remote indigenous communities—the book explores our planet’s beauty and the urgent need for environmental conservation, cultural preservation, and social equity, with proceeds benefiting the featured communities and conservation projects.
Claudia’s Class Goes to Mars by Z. Nagin Cox and Rosaly Lopes
Know a junior explorer who would love to go to Mars? Written by NASA Jet Propulsion Lab spacecraft operations engineer Z. Nagin Cox and scientist and 2009 WINGS Fellow Rosaly Lopes, this children’s book follows Claudia, Jose, and Ben as they take a virtual reality trip to Mars with their teacher Ms. Chiu, discovering how their individual passions—medicine, geology, and engineering—could all have a place in future Mars missions. Through the diverse group of friends, the story emphasizes that space exploration is for everyone, inspiring young readers to see themselves in STEM careers regardless of their background.
Support women in science by making an end-of-year gift to WINGS!
Since 2003, WINGS has empowered 200+ women scientists, explorers, and conservationists across 100+ countries to push the boundaries of what’s possible—from uncharted territories to groundbreaking research. We’ve published findings from more than 50 women-led field expeditions that are changing how we understand our world.
You can be part of their next breakthrough by making an end-of-year gift to WINGS. Donate today to support extraordinary women making extreme discoveries.
Every contribution brings us closer to a world where women’s groundbreaking work receives the recognition and resources it deserves. Donate here to help us create that world.