Earthwatch Expeditions started with a simple idea: what if regular people could take part in real science?

That idea took shape in 1968, when Apollo 8 astronauts captured the now-iconic Earthrise image, a fragile blue planet rising above the lunar horizon. For Dr. Bob Citron, an astrophysicist working across NASA, the Smithsonian, Harvard and MIT, it sparked a new way of thinking about public engagement with science. He began exploring how people could contribute directly to understanding the natural world.

In 1971, Earthwatch Expeditions was founded to put that idea into practice. The first expedition launched in Ethiopia, pairing participants with scientists to support field research on wildlife, habitats and ecosystems.

What followed was steady expansion across disciplines and continents. Projects ranged from archaeology and wildlife biology to ocean health and climate science, with long-term studies becoming a defining strength. Participants contributed data over years and even decades, helping shape scientific understanding and inform conservation decisions.

Since its founding, Earthwatch Expeditions has supported more than 1,400 research projects in over 130 countries, engaging more than 135,000 participants and contributing over 15 million hours of scientific data collection. That work has helped generate more than 2,000 peer-reviewed publications and sustained research that might otherwise not exist.

A decade following the launch of Earthwatch Expeditions, a parallel idea took shape. Ben Bressler founded Natural Habitat Adventures in 1980 on the principle of Conservation through Exploration, grounded in the belief that direct experience in nature leads to stronger conservation outcomes.

In 2026, these two approaches converged. Earthwatch Expeditions and Natural Habitat Adventures formally joined, connecting participatory science with conservation-focused travel. Today, Earthwatch Expeditions by Natural Habitat Adventures continues to bring people into the field to take part in research that expands knowledge and informs how the natural world is protected.

From Idea to Impact

• 1971 – Earthwatch Expeditions is founded, establishing a model that brings participants into the field to support scientific research.

• 1975 – Long-term excavation of mammoth graveyard sites begins in South Dakota, supported by Earthwatch Expeditions for nearly four decades.

• 1981 – A new species of funnel-web spider is identified in Queensland, Australia and named Aname earthwatchorum.

• 1995 – Earthwatch Expeditions teams in Zimbabwe document one of the first recorded instances of hippos consuming meat, reshaping understanding of the species’ behavior.

• 2000 – More than 23,000 African penguins are rescued and cleaned following the Treasure oil spill in South Africa. Earthwatch Expeditions teams support the effort, with 90% of birds surviving.

• 2007 – After two decades of support, research on Isle Royale wolves produces key findings on inbreeding and extinction risk.

• 2013 – Data collected through Earthwatch Expeditions-supported research contributes to increased international protections for several endangered shark species.

• 2023 – Research supported by Earthwatch Expeditions scientists and participants contributes to the designation of Golfo Dulce as an Important Marine Mammal Area.

• 2026 – Earthwatch Expeditions and Natural Habitat Adventures formalize their partnership, bringing participatory research together with conservation-focused travel.