JANUARY (^) | FROM MIKE ULICA
Our Aim: To Illuminate
and Protect
LOOKING AHEAD
TO A NEW YEAR
THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
uses the power of science, exploration,
education, and storytelling to illumi-
nate and protect the wonder of our
world. With this mission statement,
we honor our legacy as a 131-year-old
global nonprofit and the principles that
will guide our work in the years ahead.
As we start 2020, I’d like to share our
plans for what will truly be a conse-
quential year. We will commemorate
important milestones, such as the 50th
anniversary of Earth Day. We’ll cel-
ebrate the 60th anniversary of Jane
Goodall’s arrival in what is now Gombe
National Park, with an immersive
museum exhibit at our headquarters
in Washington, D.C. And National Geo-
graphic will join world leaders at the
Convention on Biological Diversity
meeting in Kunming, China, to help
inform a post-2020 framework for sup-
porting global biodiversity.
In each instance, the Society’s con-
tributions will be driven by our unique
approach. We illuminate the world’s
wonders by exploring a subject and
bringing it to life with powerful story-
telling. We protect what is wonderful by
taking action to safeguard the planet’s
critical resources and inhabitants.
Our mission can take the form of
photographer Joel Sartore’s Photo Ark
project: affecting wildlife portraits that
connect us with at-risk species on an
emotional level and inspire us to pro-
tect these remarkable animals.
Our mission also is exemplified by
our recent work on Mount Everest,
together with our partners at Rolex.
Building on both organizations’ his-
tories of exploration, we used ground-
breaking science to reveal how Earth’s
systems function and are changing
over time. The expedition’s achieve-
ments included installing the world’s
two highest-altitude automated
Mike Ulica, President and COO
National Geographic Society
weather stations and collecting the
highest ever ice core sample.
We work with the next generation
of planetary stewards in mind. Young
people increasingly identify as global
citizens and unite around issues they
care about. The Society is committed
to growing their understanding of the
world, and supporting their interest
in geography and their empathy for
the Earth.
Please know that your support makes
the Society’s work possible. Thank you
for standing with us to illuminate and
protect the wonder of our world.
PHOTO: MARK THIESSEN, NGM STAFF
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