About the board

The Exploration Board considers proposals for student expeditions, and administers funds to assist with expedition costs. The Exploration Board was set up in 1955 to consider proposals for expeditions submitted by Imperial students, and to administer funds given by the university, Imperial College Union and other sources to assist with the cost of these expeditions. 

The Board meets twice a year (see Dates of meetings) to consider proposals submitted to it. Decisions to recognise expeditions as official Imperial ventures are usually made at a meeting held in the autumn term. In many cases recognition carries with it a grant towards the cost (see Sources of funding)  and most expeditions also receive support in the form of money or equipment from other sources. A variety of equipment is held for loan to approved expeditions.

Expeditions provide excellent opportunities to gain experience in organisation and living and working with other people, and when considering proposals the Board takes this, as well as the scientific value, into account. On the whole, the Board aims to support projects that reach a balance between straightforward scientific research and an adventurous holiday.

Imperial expeditions have spanned the globe over the past 70 years and a large archive of expedition reports and photographs is maintained.