Joe Grabowski
Joe is a highly awarded science communicator, educator, and explorer, working to inspire the next generation of scientists, explorers and conservationists. Joe has brought science and exploration to life for over 2 million students from kindergarten to post secondary, and spoken in front of audiences around the world.
In 2015, he founded the non-profit Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants (EBTSOYP), to bring those on the frontlines of our changing planet, live into classrooms across North America and around the world. EBTSOYP does this through virtual guest speakers, field trips and interactive resources. Since 2015, EBTSOYP hosted 5,000+ live events connecting over 2 million and a half students with leading scientists and explorers from 116 countries. These opportunities are, and always will be, free for classrooms everywhere.
Joe's using technology to open the most remote corners of the planet to classrooms, sending textbook-sized satellite units into the field with explorers so they can live broadcast into classrooms from the most remote regions on the planet.
In 2017, he was selected as a National Geographic Emerging Explorer, shortly after becoming National Geographic’s first Education Fellow, and founding National Geographic’s Explorer Classroom program. Joe's a top 50 finalist for the Global Teacher Prize and is a fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, the Royal Geographical Society, the Ocean Exploration Trust and Explorers Club. He's currently serving his second 3-year term on the board of directors of the Explorers Club, after being re-elected by the club's explorer community based around the world.
Recent expeditions include being part of a National Geographic Meridian Grant team looking at the impacts of logging on freshwater ecosystems in northern Alberta and the 2-year Darwin200 expedition. The Darwin200 followed Darwin's Voyage of the Beagle on a historic tall ship. Joe joined the expedition on launch and return in the UK and in Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Australia and South Africa along the way.
Joe's an experienced scuba diver, exploring cold Canadian waters, and around the world in places like Australia, Fiji, Brazil, Cozumel, the US, and the Galapagos - from German U-boats to the Great Barrier Reef.
2025 | Re-elected to the Board of the Explorers Club
2023 | ISTE 20 to Watch Award
2023 | Royal Geographical Society Fellow (UK)
2023 | Citation of Merit: Explorers Club Canadian Chapter
2022 | Elected to the Board of the Explorers Club
2021 | WeNaturalists People of Nature Awards in the category of Environment Educator
2019 | Environment and Climate Change Canada Grantee
2019 | National Science and Engineering Council Grantee
2019 | HundrED K-12 Top 100 Global Education Innovation
2019 | National Geographic Fellow
2018 | National Geographic Grantee
2018 | Explorers Club Fellow
2018 | Top 50 Finalist Global Teacher Prize
2018 | National Geographic Fellow
2018 | Ocean Exploration Trust Science Communication Fellow
2018 | Visiting Scientist University of Guelph
2017 | National Geographic Emerging Explorer
2017 | Royal Canadian Geographical Society Fellow
2017 | National Geographic Fellow
2016 | National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellow
2016 | Canadian Scholarship Trust Inspired Minds Learning Project Grand Prize Winner