Børge Ousland is one of the world’s most accomplished polar explorers. The Norwegian adventurer has spent decades taking on some of the most difficult expeditions on Earth, including historic journeys across the Arctic and Antarctica. He became the first person to ski solo and unsupported to the North Pole and later completed the first solo and unsupported crossing of Antarctica.
Before becoming a full-time explorer, Ousland worked as a deep-sea saturation diver, living for weeks in pressurized chambers and working at depths of hundreds of meters. He later served in Norway’s naval special forces, experiences that helped develop the preparation, discipline, and risk-management skills that became essential to his expeditions.
Throughout his career, Ousland has explored some of the most remote environments on the planet, written books about his adventures, produced films, and spoken around the world about exploration, teamwork, resilience, and environmental change. In 2025, he received the Royal Geographical Society’s Founder’s Medal, one of the organization’s highest honors.
During his Edutainment Learning conversation, students will hear about careers in exploration and adventure, what it takes to survive and make decisions in extreme environments, the importance of preparation and teamwork, and the lessons Børge has learned from pushing himself far beyond what most people would consider possible.
