The National Geographic Society has named two Kenyan conservationists, Dr. Paula Kahumbu and Dr. Dino Martins, to the 2011 class of National Geographic Emerging Explorers. The two Kenyans are among fourteen such visionary, young trailblazers from around the world recognised this year.

Wildlife conservationist Paula Kahumbu was recognised for her work of connecting conservationists around the world with people who want to support their work. As executive director of WildlifeDirect, she uses the power of the Internet to spotlight key conservation issues and raise awareness and donations for projects saving wildlife and wild places. Thanks to her efforts, about 120 conservation projects have an online platform to share challenges and victories via blogs, videos, photos and podcasts. By celebrating the work of Africa’s conservation heroes, Kahumbu has turned WildlifeDirect into a tool to advocate for and share home-grown conservation solutions to such challenges as ivory and rhino horn poaching, roads through parks, climate change, effects of pesticides on endangered predators and wildlife conflict in areas that neighbor parks.

Entomologist Dino Martins (fondly referred to by peers as ‘duduman’) earned his new stripes for his exceptional work of investigating the crucial role that insects play in pollinating plants. Dino, who has just received his Ph.D. from Harvard University, works to identify the most useful plants and pollinators across East Africa while creating habitats that will attract pollinators and help both ecosystems and local communities thrive. He works with rural farmers, who are on the frontline between biodiversity and habitat destruction, to protect bees, by highlighting the necessity of pollinators for productive and sustainable agriculture. He also works with schoolchildren to start pollinator gardens, collect bugs and identify the most relevant crops and pollinators in their community. “You couldn’t ask for more enthusiastic young scientists,” he says.

National Geographic’s Emerging Explorers Program recognises and supports uniquely gifted and inspiring adventurers, scientists and storytellers making a significant contribution to world knowledge through exploration while still early in their careers. The Emerging Explorers each receive a $10,000 award to assist with research and to aid further exploration. The program is made possible in part by the Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation, which has supported the program since its inception in 2004.

The other 2011 Emerging Explorers are cultural educator and Middle East peace worker Aziz Abu Sarah; environmental scientist Jennifer Burney; planetary scientist and astrobiologist Kevin Hand; paleontologist Jørn Hurum; bioengineer Kakani Katija; ecologist Sasha Kramer; environmentalist Juan Martinez; wastewater engineer Ashley Murray; ornithologist and conservation ecologist Çağan Hakkı Şekercioğlu; wildlife ecologist and filmmaker Adrian Seymour; science entrepreneur Hayat Sindi; and Asian elephant specialist Tuy Sereivathana.