National Geographic Live Speaker Series: Lucy Hawkes— Life on the Move

Every year, across land, sea, and sky, billions of animals take part in astonishing journeys—migrations shaped by instinct, endurance, and changing environments. In this captivating presentation, physiological ecologist and National Geographic Explorer Dr. Lucy Hawkes brings these stories to life with a scientist’s expertise and an adventurer’s heart.

Equipped with state-of-the-art tracking technology and a deep curiosity about the animal world, Hawkes has followed some of nature’s most remarkable travelers: basking sharks that dive thousands of feet into the ocean’s dark zones, bar-headed geese that soar over the Himalayas, and sea turtles that navigate entire ocean basins with uncanny precision. From the windswept coasts of the U.K. to distant coral reefs and desert flyways, her work has taken her around the globe in pursuit of one question: how do these “animal athletes” do it—and what can their journeys tell us about the health of our planet?

A physiological ecologist and National Geographic Explorer, Hawkes uses cutting-edge miniaturized tracking technology to follow the journeys of fish, mammals, birds, and reptiles across the globe. She was the first to track sea turtles from North Carolina and Cape Verde and has published over 60 scientific articles cited more than 2,300 times. Her work helps scientists better understand how species respond to climate shifts and habitat change.

You’ll leave with a new understanding of migration—not just as a biological phenomenon, but as a window into resilience, adaptation, and the interconnectivity of life on Earth. Get ready to meet the endurance champions of the natural world, and the explorer who brings their stories to life.

Click here to learn more. National Geographic Live Speaker Series season tickets are available now. Travel the world in a single evening with Lucy Hawkes—and witness the wonder of wildlife in motion.