The 2023 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize Awards Ceremony is held at the Royal Geographical Society in London. The winners of the Best Published Novel, New Voices and Author of Tomorrow awards will be announced. 

2023 Women of Discovery Awards Gala

The 20th Anniversary WINGS Women of Discovery Awards Gala.

Thursday, October 12, 2023, New York City

Worlds Beneath the Waves celebrates the 150th anniversary of the oceanographic voyage of HMS Challenger and links the work of Challenger with the modern-day equivalent work of today’s Navy and oceanographers. The exhibition will see the very first Boaty McBoatface put on open display for the very first time.

The exhibition has been developed in partnership with the National Oceanography Centre and the crews of HMS Protector, with additional support from British Antarctic Survey. HMS Protector is the Royal Navy’s only Ice Patrol Ship and calls the waters of Antarctica and the Southern Hemisphere home. 

Drinks reception and exclusive preview to mark the opening: 14 September 2023 at the National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth 

A conference for ALL genders

National STAND UP Schools' Conference 2022

FREE & EQUAL? #2: Sexism, Misogyny and Harassment

THURSDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2022: 9.30am – 3pm

Streaming LIVE to secondary schools & sixth forms across the UK, join students & schools across the country to explore sexism, gender bias in society and sexual harassment.

• Unboxing Gender Bias & Disparity

• Exploring Power & Consent

• Challenging Inequality, Harassment and Abuse

The Me Too movement, Everyone’s Invited and the shocking murder of Sarah Everard are just some of the events which have highlighted just how much sexual harassment and misogyny pervades society. The disparity between men and women is baked into our systems and consciousness and results in women and girls everywhere continuing to be treated as ‘The Second Sex’. Now is an unprecedented time to address this issue in our schools and equip our students to challenge injustice and champion the human rights of all.

For more details: https://www.beyondthis.co.uk/standup2/

Felicity Aston will be talking about the Women’s Euro-Arabian North Pole Expedition which she led in 2018.

This is a virtual online talk and you must be a member of the Guildford Travel Club to join - or there are a limited number of ‘guest passes’ available (£7).

Polar Exposure: To the top of a changing world

In 2018, British climate scientist turned polar explorer, Felicity Aston MBE, led a team of 10 women from across Europe and the Middle East on a ski expedition to traverse the last degree of latitude to the North Geographic Pole across the constantly shifting sea ice of the Arctic Ocean. The team were largely novices and undertook a two-year campaign of training expeditions in both Iceland and the Arabian Peninsula before setting out across the ice. They faced temperatures down to -40C, the risk of predatory polar bears, ridges of hazardous ice rubble and the menace of open water but the reward was to stand together at the top of the world.

More information at:

https://www.guildfordtravelclub.org.uk/events/2021/talks/02-FelicityAston.html

Polar Exposure: The Women's Euro-Arabian North Pole Expedition.

Facing extreme temperatures, a constantly shifting landscape and the threat from predatory polar bears, polar scientist turned explorer, Felicity Aston and a team of ten novices from across Europe and the Middle East ski across the frozen Arctic Ocean to the North Pole.

An international team of women from across Europe and the Middle East that skied the last degree to the North Pole in April 2018. The expedition faced many physical challenges like temperatures down to -38°C and shifting pack ice, but the core purpose of the expedition was to foster greater dialogue and understanding between women from Western and Arabian cultures. In addition, the expedition inspired many women to reach beyond the expectation of others to fulfil their own ultimate life ambitions.

Presented by the King’s Lynn Festival and the Royal Geographical Society with IBG.

St George's Guildhall, 29 King St, PE30 1HA King's Lynn, Norfolk

Tickets can be bought online here:

£12, under 18s & RGS/IBG members £10

Website: www.kingslynnfestival.org.uk

Box Office (festival): 01553 764 864

Polar Exposure: The Woman's Euro-Arabian North Pole Exhibition

Thurs 12 Mar 2020, 7.30pm, Guildhall Theatre talks

Facing extreme temperatures, a constantly shifting landscape and the threat from predatory polar bears, polar scientist turned explorer, Felicity Aston and a team of ten novices from across Europe and the Middle East ski across the frozen Arctic Ocean to the North Pole. The expedition faced many physical challenges like temperatures down to -38°C and shifting pack ice, but the core purpose of the expedition was to foster greater dialogue and understanding between women from Western and Arabian cultures.

Tickets can be bought online here:

£12/ £10 Concs/ £9 RGS-IBG Members

Guildhall Arts Centre
St Peter’s Hill,
Grantham, NG31 6PZ

Box Office & General Enquiries: 01476 406 158

www.guildhallartscentre.com

RGS (with IBG) presents

Polar Exposure:The Women’s Euro-Arabian North Pole Expedition with Felicity Aston

Facing extreme temperatures, a constantly shifting landscape and the threat from predatory polar bears, polar scientist turned explorer, Felicity Aston and a team of ten novices from across Europe and the Middle East ski across the frozen Arctic Ocean to the North Pole.

An international team of women from across Europe and the Middle East that skied the last degree to the North Pole in April 2018. The expedition faced many physical challenges like temperatures down to -38°C and shifting pack ice, but the core purpose of the expedition was to foster greater dialogue and understanding between women from Western and Arabian cultures. In addition, the expedition inspired many women to reach beyond the expectation of others to fulfill their own ultimate life ambitions.

Wed 11 March 7:30 PM

1hr 30mins plus interval + Q&A

Tickets £12 (£10) / £9 RGS members (and a guest)

Tickets can be bought online here

Stamford Arts Centre
27 St Mary's Street
Stamford
Lincs.
PE9 2DL

Box Office: 01780 763203

www.stamfordartscentre.com

Felicity Aston | Polar Exposure

TUESDAY 10 MARCH - 8:00 PM

Turner Simms, University of Southampton SO17 1BJ
www.turnersimms.co.uk
Box Office : 023 8059 5151

THE WOMEN’S EURO-ARABIAN NORTH POLE EXPEDITION

British polar explorer Felicity Aston MBE is an Antarctic scientist turned author, speaker and expedition leader. In 2012 she became the first woman to ski alone across Antarctica.

Tonight she shares tales from her 2018 adventure when, facing extreme temperatures, a constantly shifting landscape and the threat from predatory polar bears, she and a team of ten novices from across Europe and the Middle East skied across the frozen Arctic Ocean to the North Pole. The core purpose of the expedition was to foster greater dialogue and understanding between women from Western and Arabian cultures – but it also inspired many women to reach beyond the expectation of others to fulfil their own ultimate life ambitions.

In association with 

TICKETS can be booked online here

Standard£15.00

60 Plus£14.00

Student£8.00

Under 18£8.00

RGS Members£13.00

PA Card£7.50

Friends£13.50

Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University

Van Nelle Fabriek, Rotterdam

Tickets and agenda - https://www.rsm.nl/sites/leadership-summit-2019/

The event - If change is the only constant, positive change is possible. Inspiration from business leaders, knowledge from world-class academics, and networking with people from across the corporate world. Every year, RSM invites the business community to an event that engages everyone in a debate about issues and challenges in business and leadership, and presents inspiration and answers from international business leaders and thinkers.

15.30 Polar Exposure: An expedition to the top of a changing world

The keynote - What does it feel like to achieve something that’s beyond the expectation of others? And what’s it like to learn to tackle risks and challenges in an extreme and demanding environment of change? British Polar Explorer, Felicity Aston, explains where the feeling comes from, and how it can be achieved – even by novices – through careful preparation.
Here’s how 10 women traversed the unpredictable ice of the frozen Arctic Ocean on their way to the North Geographic Pole.

A three-day conference of exploration gathering together active explorers in all fields and disciplines. Organised by The Explorers Club, one day of the summit is open to the public free of charge. The line up of speakers on this public day is striking for its diversity and range.

Felicity will be speaking alongside Norwegian Polar Legend Liv Arnesen on the subject ‘Cold and White Spaces’ - they will not be short of material!

www.glexsummit.com

International Centre at UC Davis

Invited speakers, Felicity Aston, Hester Blum and Elizabeth Bradfield

Friday 8th March 2019

Palace House, Newmarket

7pm

Tickets £15 including glass of prosecco on arrival and viewing of Anita Corbin’s First Women exhibition.

10% discount on post-talk meals at venue restaurant

Details and bookings via venue website at:

https://www.palacehousenewmarket.co.uk/an-evening-with-felicity-ashton-mbe.html

I will be speaking about the Women's Euro-Arabian North Pole Expedition at the Royal Geographical Society in London as part of the Monday Night Lectures programme on Monday 22nd October.

The lecture is free for RGS Members and full details will be available on the RGS website and season bulletin.

The Women's Adventure Expo are presenting a day of activities in the centenary year of women's suffrage to highlight and celebrate the role of women in exploration.

The event will be held at the Royal Geographical Society on Thursday 21st June.

Full details can be found at: https://womensadventureexpo.co.uk/the-heritage-of-women-in-exploration/

At 7.30pm I will be giving a talk in the Ondaatje Lecture Theatre on the history of women in the polar regions which will be followed by a Q and A session with the Euro-Arabian North Pole Expedition team and the Ice Maidens Antarctic Expedition team.

The Leadership Summit for Sustainable Business.

Vancouver, Canada.

I will be giving a 15-minute SPARK talk at the Forum on Thursday 15th March at 2.15pm.

Event details can be found at www.globeseries.com/forum/

And a trailer of the SPARK speakers can be watched here: https://drive.google. com/file/d/1ti93APPF5r- VxI8vpudIYwjbwocOg-gq/view? usp=sharing

Part of the RSGS "Inspiring People" series.

VENUE: Waterstones, 153-157 Sauchiehall St, Glasgow, G2 3EW

Tickets are available in advance. For more information see https://rsgs.org/event/glasgow-felicity-aston-pole-of-cold-a-journey-to-chase-winter/

Part of the RSGS "Inspiring People" series.

VENUE: Edinburgh – Appleton Tower (LT5) 11 Crichton Street, University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh, EH8 9LE

Tickets available in advance from the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. For more information see: https://rsgs.org/event/edinburgh-felicity-aston-pole-of-cold-a-journey-to-chase-winter/

Part of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society "Inspiring People" Series.

VENUE: Kirkcaldy – School of Midwifery  ( University of Dundee Fife Campus, 5 Forth Avenue
Kirkcaldy, KY2 5YS)

Tickets available in advance from the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. For more information go to https://rsgs.org/event/kirkcaldy-felicity-aston-pole-of-cold-a-journey-to-chase-winter/

The Wilderness Lectures is a winter series of public lectures at the University of Bristol in the Chemistry Theatre, the theme of which is world-wide adventure. The lecturers are well known explorers, mountaineers, travel writers, TV and adventure sports personalities or anyone who has an epic story to tell and can entertain the audience with a good story, with the talks themselves usually including slides and/or film.

Felicity will be giving a lecture as part of the series this December - details below:

Venue: Chemistry Theatre, University of Bristol

More information and tickets (price from £8.50) can be found on the Wilderness Lectures website at:

http://www.wildernesslectures.com/speaker.php?id=225

Pole of Cold: A Journey to Chase Winter

'What does winter mean to you?' This was the question that Felicity and her team sought to answer as they travelled more than 35,000km from the UK across Scandinavia and Siberia in a Land Rover Defender. Using images, stories, film footage and sounds gathered during the expedition, Felicity describes the people and places the team experienced as they headed into some of the most extreme winter climates in the world including the Pole of Cold, the coldest inhabited place on the planet where temperatures plummeted to almost -60C. What is the best form of transport when it is so cold that fuel becomes solid? How cold does it have to be before children stop going to school? And is it possible to hear your own breath freeze....?

Royal Aeronautical Society, Mayfair, London.

Interviewed live on stage by Jim McNeill as part of his 'Icons Interviewed' series.

Tickets £25

https://spark.adobe.com/page/oTJ7CAhOAASZP/?w=3_3106

Felicity will be returning to the Guildford Travel Club to talk about her expedition to the Pole of Cold.

Venue: Onslow Village Hall, Guildford, GU2 7QR

Tickets (£7 for non-members) and further information can be found on the Club's website at www.guildfordtravelclub.org.uk

Pole of Cold: A Journey to Chase Winter                                                                           'What does winter mean to you?' This was the question that Felicity and her team sought to answer as they travelled more than 35,000km from the UK across Scandinavia and Siberia in a Land Rover Defender. Using images, stories, film footage and sounds gathered during the expedition, Felicity describes the people and places the team experienced as they headed into some of the most extreme winter climates in the world including the Pole of Cold, the coldest inhabited place on the planet where temperatures plummeted to almost -60C. What is the best form of transport when it is so cold that fuel becomes solid? How cold does it have to be before children stop going to school? And is it possible to hear your own breath freeze....?

Saturday 3rd December 2016 from 2.30pm

Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London

http://www.rgs.org/WhatsOn/London+Lectures/Childrens+Lecture.htm

The Society’s annual Children’s lecture is an entertaining and educational afternoon event. The lecture is intended for a family audience and members may apply for tickets in advance. Following the lecture, tea, squash and biscuits are served, our giant walk-on map is laid out and Geography Ambassadors run fun activities.

Previous speakers have included George McGavin, Ray Mears, Rebecca Stephens, Saba Douglas Hamilton, Iain Stewart, Michael Palin, Andy Eavis and Andy Rouse.

Timings for the event:

• 1.45pm Exhibition Road doors open - ticket holders may take seats in Ondaatje Theatre or visit the Giant Map in the Education Centre
• 2.30pm-3.15pm Lecture
• 3.15pm-3.30pm Questions from the audience
• 3.30-4.30pm Squash, biscuits and tea will be served in the Map Room, our giant map will be in the Education Centre, Stanfords will have a mini-shop with seasonal favourites and Geography Ambassadors will provide fun activities in the Main Hall.
• 4.30pm Event ends and we hope all our guests (young and old) have had a lovely afternoon.

Tickets: Free to RGS-IBG members (maximum five per member) - admittance is by ticket only. Tickets are intended for members who wish to bring guests with them to the lecture. All children must be supervised by an adult and supervised throughout.

Henley Business School, Whiteknights campus, University of Reading

The lecture will be followed by a Q & A session led by David Bell, Vice-Chancellor, University of Reading and a drinks reception, allowing all guests the opportunity to network and meet fellow alumni and University staff over a glass of wine.

All University of Reading alumni are welcome to attend. The lectures are free but booking is essential as places are limited. Book tickets at https://alumni.reading.ac.uk/felicityaston

I will be speaking during the Saturday afternoon session of the Dundee Mountain Film Festival on Saturday 26th November. Tickets are £10 and are available online along with full details on the Festival website at:

http://www.dundeemountainfilm.org.uk/saturdayafternoon.htm

As part of the Canterbury Christ Church University Public Lecture Series, Felicity will be giving a public lecture at 6pm on Tuesday 11th October. She will be speaking about 'Pole of Cold: A Journey to chase winter'.

Tickets are free but must be booked in advance by contacting artsandculture@canterbury.ac.uk or Tel: 01227 782994

For more information go to https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/about-us/public-lectures/event-details.aspx?instance=86205