PRESS RELEASE: ReQUEST Foundation and Royal Canadian Geographical Society Partner to Inspire the Next Generation of Polar Explorers
LABRADOR SEA, July 20, 2026 –The ReQUEST Foundation and the Royal
Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS) have
signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create new opportunities for young
people to participate in research and exploration in the polar regions.
The partnership will support youth-led polar projects with participants aged 16-24 through mentorship, collaboration, potential co-funding, and increased awareness among prospective participants, partners, and supporters.
"The future of polar exploration depends on engaging and empowering the next generation," said John Geiger, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. "Jan and I have had the privilege of working together on two landmark expeditions. This new partnership builds on that shared experience to help young people become the next generation of researchers and explorers."
ReQuest Trustee Jan Chojecki aboard R/V Atlantis this week with the ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) that has just photographed the wrecks of Shackleton’s Quest and Scott’s Terra Nova.
"ReQUEST Foundation was established to create opportunities for talented young people to pursue ambitious research and exploration," said Jan Chojecki, a founding Trustee of the ReQUEST Foundation. "Our collaboration with the Royal Canadian Geographical Society reflects our shared belief that international partnerships can inspire and equip the polar leaders of tomorrow."
Geiger and Chojecki have worked together on several significant polar expeditions. In 2024, they were members of the expedition that discovered QUEST, Sir Ernest Shackleton's final expedition ship, in the Labrador Sea. They also participated in the 2026 Heroic Age Expedition, which created high-resolution digital twins of the wrecks of Shackleton's Quest and Captain Robert Falcon Scott's Terra Nova, preserving the legacy of two of the foremost explorers of the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration and helping to inspire future generations.
For more information or to enquire about a youth project please contact us.