This atlas was published in 1991. I knew it by heart – literally every square inch of the maps. In it, Poland borders the USSR. It could easily replace all the libraries in the world for me, because it taught me how to dream and use my imagination—without which no great journey is possible.
And so, a childhood dream has come true. It is the culmination of 20 years of intense work and publications. One of the key projects reviewed was made possible specifically through the patronage of this institution.
I first set foot there in 2008. The letter of recommendation I received back then opened many doors in Africa ahead of a major expedition through the Minkébé rainforest. This is a living, breathing organization that actively teaches why Earth sciences are so critical today. It’s a huge responsibility, as the society is made up primarily of researchers. Thanks to this, I believe I’ll soon be able to share news of another bold venture.
I am currently working with Colombian climbers to plan a November 2026 expedition to traverse the entire Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta range through Kogi indigenous territories, aiming to summit either Pico Cristóbal Colón or Pico Simón Bolívar. Our key challenge is finding a route from south to north. Additionally, we plan to locate the specific community that recently received the return of artifacts from the Ethnological Museum of Berlin—pieces originally collected years ago by German researcher Konrad Theodor Preuss.
London, see you soon.