Announcing the 2025 Recipients of The Explorers Club Kensington Conservation Grant

In fall 2024, we announced the Kensington Conservation Grant in partnership with The Explorers Club, an international organization dedicated to advancing field exploration and scientific inquiry. The Kensington Conservation Grant is a $1,000,000 initiative to support vital, on-the-ground conservation projects happening now, and in years to come, as investing in this work has never been more vital.  

The annual grant will support research and fieldwork being done by explorers, scientists, and conservationists in an effort to protect our planet’s ecosystems and biodiversity. Focused on projects in Asia and Latin America, the Kensington Conservation Grant aims to make a meaningful global impact in regions where our clients travel. By supporting researchers working directly in these areas, we hope to contribute to a better, brighter future for the planet and all of its inhabitants.   

After reviewing many worthy applicants, we’re thrilled to announce the 2025 recipients of the Kensington Conservation Grant for our inaugural year, whose work is making a significant impact in their respective fields.  

KIM FRANK

From Conflict to Coexistence: Asian Elephants Along the Eastern Himalaya 

Our first grantee, Kim Frank, is an award-winning author and conservation advocate whose work is focused in India and Bhutan. During her travels, she became captivated by the growing conflict between humans and the endangered Asian elephant populations in Northern India. Already facing threats from habitat fragmentation and the challenges of climate change, these magnificent animals are struggling to thrive in their native habitat. 

With the support of the Kensington Conservation Grant, Kim and her team will share the compelling story of elephants living in the Himalayan foothills. She also shines a light on the untold stories of these communities and their long-standing sacred relationship with these majestic animals in her new book, Elephants in the Hourglass.  

Her research will focus on innovative conservation solutions and raise global awareness around the importance of preserving both wildlife and the cultures that have coexisted with them for centuries. 

OCTAVIO DEL RÍO LARA

Tulum’s Underwater Caves 

Our second grantee, Octavio Del Río Lara, is a researcher with a long history of contributing to groundbreaking discoveries about early human remains in the Americas. His past work has greatly deepened our understanding of ancient human populations, and now, his focus has turned to the submerged cave systems of Tulum, Mexico. 

These underwater caves, or cenotes, are rich with fossils and ancient artifacts. They offer a glimpse into the lives of America’s earliest inhabitants, as these environments shaped early human history, survival strategies, and social structures over many millennia. By exploring these ecosystems, Octavio and his team are uncovering information on how ancient populations adapted to the dramatic climate and species shifts through epochs.  

The Kensington Conservation Grant will help fund Octavio’s ongoing work, ensuring that these fragile cave systems are protected for future generations. By understanding how ancient humans thrived in these ecosystems, Octavio hopes to provide important lessons that can inform current conservation efforts. 

Looking Ahead

The phenomenal work being done by Kim Frank and Octavio Del Río Lara demonstrates the transformative potential of conservation research that we strive to achieve with the Kensington Conservation Grant. We look forward to following along with the progress of Kim and Octavio’s groundbreaking work.

Applications for our 2026 grants will open in the fall. For more information visit The Explorers Club website.