Polar explorer, TED speaker, and record-breaking long-distance skier Ben Saunders fuses the spirit of adventure with impressive technical ingenuity. He has five North Pole expeditions under his belt and is best known for leading one of the most ambitious expeditions in a century. Humble and self-effacing, he is an explorer of limits and his message is one of inspiration, empowerment, and boundless potential. He explores the dichotomy between ideas and action and urges audiences to consider carefully how to spend the “tiny amount of time we each have on this planet.”

Conservation biologist and National Geographic explorer Steve Boyes gives audiences an eye-opening look at the world around us and shares insights on the power of exploration. Through the use of stunning high-quality images and stories, he challenges audiences to view the world with a fresh perspective. He believes that rich biodiversity is the key to maintaining our quality of life and connection to the planet, and he shares the human experience of the wilderness with audiences so that they come to understand why they need to protect areas that they will likely never see firsthand.

Alex Honnold is an American big wall free solo climber. He has broken a number of speed records, most notably including the only known solo of the Yosemite Triple crown, an 18 hour 50 minute link up of Mt. Watkins, The Nose (El Capitan), and The Regular Northwest Face of Half Dome. He and Hans Florine are the current record holders for the Nose with a time of 2:23:51. Alex’s keynote will explore unexpected paths to greatness, mastering your craft, and living a life that celebrates our planet and sustainability. You’ll hear how Honnold’s focus and work ethic propelled him to achieve greatness beyond what anyone thought was possible.

Bob Ballard shares amazing stories with incredible enthusiasm and energy about the treasures of the ocean and how new discoveries could solve the world’s toughest problems. The man who discovered the Titanic, the Bismarck, and life at the bottom of the sea is an enthralling presenter who inspires curiosity and adventure through science and education. He weaves in his own discoveries to illustrate his points and uses incredible pictures to bring his adventures to life.

Reflecting his interdisciplinary training in American Studies, which combined the fields of history, literature, and economics, Professor Kennedy's scholarship is notable for its integration of economic and cultural analysis with social and political history. His 1970 book, Birth Control in America: The Career of Margaret Sanger, embraced the medical, legal, political, and religious dimensions of the subject and helped to pioneer the emerging field of women's history. Over Here: The First World War and American Society (1980) used the history of American involvement in World War I to analyze the American political system, economy, and culture in the early twentieth century. Freedom From Fear: The American People in Depression and War (1999) recounts the history of the United States in the two great crises of the Great Depression and World War II.