It was early evening, 14th October, last year. I’d just received the email completely out of the blue. I’d had a long day in London, and was staying over for an early start the following morning. The email was from National Geographic, and it carried news that I’d been named an “Emerging Explorer“. Of course, I thought it was spam.
Because the nomination and selection process for these Awards are entirely confidential, I still don’t know to this day who nominated me. Not only that, but I also had to get my head around what on earth my work had to do with exploration. The email wasn’t spam, after all.
On reflection, it was a very bold move by the Selection Committee. Almost all of the other Emerging Explorers are either climbing, diving, scaling, digging or building, and what I do hardly fits into your typical adventurer job description. But in a way it does. As mobile technology continues its global advance, figuring out ways of applying the technology in socially and environmentally meaningful ways is a kind of 21st century exploring. The public reaction to the Award has been incredible, and once people see the connection they tend to think differently about tools like FrontlineSMS and their place in the world.
The Awards were made during “Explorers Week” in Washington DC in June. You can watch my 15 minute presentation (above), or read a short blog post of thoughts from the start of the week. We’ve also recently begun a new series on the National Geographic website – “Mobile Message” – designed to help spread the word on what mobile technology means for the developing world.
It was a huge honour to be the first mobile innovator to be named a National Geographic Emerging Explorer. With the incredible progress being made by many other friends and colleagues, I’m confident I won’t be the last…
Wonderful speech. I think you really hit the nail on the head by emphasizing the importance of Frontline as a tool that can be repurposed to respond to any problem.
@Jordan – Thanks! Appreciate it, and glad you enjoyed the talk. It was a great event and an honour to talk to such an amazing audience.
Don’t watch many of these kinds of video but loved this. And great how at Frontline SMS you see yourselves as enablers and message bearers rather than those actually doing the work. Inspiring stuff — do keep it up!!
@Stephen – Glad you resonate with the focus and the message. I’ve written quite a bit about our approach over the past two or three years. You might want to check this post out:
http://www.kiwanja.net/2009/01/a-glimpse-into-social-mobiles-long-tail/