The Founders Dream…I believe one of the definitions of humanity is the urge to find new ground and to push back the boundaries. Today the great unknowns are the deep sea, both outer space and inner space and above all, understanding the connections and meanings of what we observe. What links us to Odysseus, Gudrid the Far Traveler, Sir Richard Burton, Mary Kingsley and all the great names of exploration is the quest for knowledge. That is a quest that will never end. It is one we all have to join-- fully join. To fully join, we have to acknowledge and learn from those who have gone before and opened those doors for us. One purpose of Wings WorldQuest is bring out of the shadows those whose voices have been unacknowledged and obscured so the picture of the past can more fully inform our present to enable us all to make better choices for tomorrow.
Co-Founder Milbry Polk
Our History…
In 1993,Wings Trust (a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization) was founded by Leila Hadley Luce and Milbry Polk to preserve the oral histories, discoveries, and accomplishments of women explorers. In 2001, Milbry Polk and Mary Tiegreen published, "Women of Discovery: A Celebration of Intrepid Women Who Explored the World," to introduce the public to the incredible stories and adventures of past and present women explorers.
In 2003, Wings WorldQuest was created to expand the mission of Wings Trust and through an awards program to offer support to the ground-breaking work of current women explorers and scientists. Wings WorldQuest is dedicated to promoting the contributions of women explorers, in all fields of study around the world, and to advancing scientific exploration and education. Our work unites elements of empowering women, scientific curiosity, environmental activism, conservation, humanities, exploration, mentoring and education.
Since its inception, Wings WorldQuest has recognized and brought to light the accomplishments of amazing women. Through their vision and work, these diverse women have uncovered incredible knowledge in the social and physical sciences, while setting inspiring examples for men, children and women alike.
What we value..
* The contributions of women pioneers and visionaries who preceded us
* Curiosity, inquiry, risk-taking and the pursuit of knowledge
* The strength of women explorers’ spirit and work
* Explorers of every age, color, national origin, physical ability, race, religion and sexual orientation
* Strategic alliances with other educational and scientific organizations and institutions
* Volunteers, contributors and staff who provide productive, expert and passionate support
Our Vision... a society in which...
*Women’s accomplishments in scientific and artistic exploration are recognized and respected
*Women doing exploration have access to organizational support and networking
*The history of women explorers is documented and accessible
*The public will be inspired by and informed about women explorers
*There are no barriers to women becoming explorers
*Every person understands that we all are explorers
*All girls and women know that they can be explorers in some field
