Welcome to the No Boundaries Blog Tour!
In No Boundaries, twenty-five inspiring women from around the world — many of whom are National Geographic Explorers — share their adventures, failures, successes, sage advice and lessons learned, straight from the field. This week, get to know five of the amazing women featured in No Boundaries and be inspired by their work and the challenges they overcame to forge new paths in science and exploration!
Meet Dr. Stephanie Grocke
Dr. Stephanie Grocke is a volcanologist and National Geographic Explorer. She earned her PhD in Volcanology from Oregon State University in 2014. Her research there, and the research she has conducted as a postdoctoral fellow at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, has taken her around the world to study volcanic eruptions. Her goal? To understand the processes that lead to volcanic eruptions with the hope that someday scientists will be able to predict them.
Q: What are your favorite hobbies?
Stephanie:
“Sports! Skiing and sailing are two sports I always did with my family when I was growing up. When I was 18, I sailed across the Atlantic Ocean with my sister and my dad. We spent weeks on a boat together, sharing a tiny space. It took a lot of planning, patience, and most of all, a sense of adventure. On some nights, the storms were so violent that waves would crash over the side of the boat, and we had to strap ourselves to the boat rails. I never thought I’d be able to complete a trip like that, and when we had land in sight, I felt the greatest sense of personal accomplishment—I knew I needed to continue to seek adventure to get that feeling again.”
Stephanie’s Advice for Aspiring Volcanologists:
“Volcanoes are windows into the interior of our planet. There is so much we don’t know about them and so much we can learn about our planet from them. Beyond volcanoes as a hazard, they hold many secrets about how our planet works. There’s a lot of work to be done, so don’t be discouraged. Go out there and delve into the unknown!”
Want to learn more about Stephanie and her fascinating research? Check out this video from National Geographic Kids and follow her on Twitter.
Meet 25 female explorers and scientists in these inspirational and poignant stories of exploration, courage, and girl power.
Along the way, they share lessons learned and words of wisdom sure to inspire the next generation of scientists, adventurers, and world-changers.
Track a volcanologist as she braves the elements atop an active volcano. Travel alongside a mountaineer as she battles stereotypes―and frostbite―to conquer the famed Seven Summits. Join a conservationist on her passionate fight to save lions. Dig with a paleontologist to uncover massive dinosaur fossils, bit by breathtaking bit. These heartfelt stories give readers an insider’s look at the amazing work female explorers at National Geographic―and beyond―are doing in the field to solve some of the world’s toughest problems.
Rather than detailing the lives of well-known women, this anthology celebrates lesser-known changemakers and outstanding women of diverse backgrounds, nationalities, and fields of study who are just beginning to make a name for themselves. Each profile is based on first-person interviews and comes paired with useful tips and relatable advice for budding explorers and scientists. Stunning photography and fascinating general interest information about the animals, places, and practices add drama and context.
No Boundaries sends a positive message to every girl who has ever dreamed or dared to go a little further. And although these explorers’ endeavors are quite adventurous, the lessons they share can inspire all girls, as well as boys, whatever their goals, skills, and interests.
CLARE FIESELER is a National Geographic explorer, photojournalist, and conservation biologist. She has conducted field research on coral reefs and island ecology across the Caribbean and wider Atlantic Ocean. She also studies urban wildlife in her home city of Washington, D.C. As a journalist, Fieseler has traveled the globe, reporting on emerging environmental problems for the Washington Post, NPR, and National Geographic, among other outlets. She was awarded the 2019 Mass Media Fellowship from the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Fieseler is most proud of the time she rappelled down a rock cliff with a broken foot to photograph the world’s most endangered fern.
GABBY SALAZAR is a National Geographic explorer, a nature and conservation photographer, and a social scientist. As a U.S. Fulbright Scholar in Photography and an associate fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers, she has worked on environmental photography projects across the globe, spending months at a time living in tropical rainforests and on tropical islands. Salazar has an MSc in Conservation Science from Imperial College London and is currently a doctoral student at the University of Florida’s School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Science, where she studies environmental marketing. She is committed to environmental education and uses photography to get kids outdoors and to connect them with nature.
GIVEAWAY
- One (1) winner will receive a hardcover of No Boundaries!
- US/Can only
- Ends 4/10 at 11:59pm ET
- Check out the other stops on the tour for more chances to win!
Blog Tour Schedule:
March 28th – Teen Librarian Toolbox
March 29th – YA Book Nerd
March 30th – Always in the Middle
March 31st – Bookhounds
April 1st – Randomly Reading
Always in the Middle... 
This book looks great!
I’d never even thought about being a volcanologist before and this research sounds fascinating. I’m excited to read this book.
Inspiring book for teens. I saw a review of this book on another blog. I hope it gets a lot of attention because it is a wonderful resource book for school libraries. So many different women working in such different scientific fields.
looks interesting