In 1975, Junko Tabei climbed Everest, the first woman to reach its summit. 50 years on, join the Mount Everest Foundation to celebrate her ascent and discover the rarely told stories of extraordinary pioneering women in the Himalayas and beyond.
This celebratory event features speakers who embody the living history of women’s mountaineering today.
- Jo Bradshaw, herself an Everest summiteer, shares with us the societal and cultural barriers that the Japanese climber Junko Tabei determinedly overcame to be the first woman to stand on Everest’s summit.
- Physicist Dr Melanie Windridge explores the science behind climbing Everest and examines how the experience may differ for women compared to men.
- A small exploratory trio, Elizabeth Porter, Dr Caitlin McHale and Martha Gutteridge, take us on a rocky road to the remote Ak-Shyyrak mountain range in Kyrgystan in search of unclimbed peaks.
Hosted by the Mount Everest Foundation which is jointly administered by the Royal Geographical Society and the Alpine Club and supports exploratory scientific and mountaineering expeditions worldwide.
- Monday Night Lecture
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London and onlineMembers + one guestMonday 21 September 2026 - Monday Night Lecture
Exploring volcanoes - Professor Sir Steve Sparks
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London and onlineMembers + one guestMonday 28 September 2026 - Monday Night Lecture
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Leading conservationist Professor Amanda Vincent tells a compelling story of blending research, management and policy to make change for ocean life, with the magical seahorses guiding our way.
London and onlineMembers + one guestMonday 5 October 2026