An Interview with Ford Cochran

Ford Corchran, one of our favorite National Geographic experts, came to us last fall and said, "Let me help you put together a new student program. The island of Hawaii is one of the most diverse, dynamic, unique, remote, and appealing destinations on Earth. It's one of my favorite places in the world, and is a perfect destination for high school students." Well, how could anyone refuse a pitch like that?

We recently sat down with Ford to get his thoughts on our new Hawaii program, available for the first time this summer.

Q: As the editor of National Geographic's BlogWild, an avid twitterer, and a master of short-form storytelling, pretend you're updating your twitter feed in the middle of this summer's Hawaii program. In 140 characters or less, convey to us what this is all about.

A: It might look something like this:

Q: When did you first visit Hawaii, and what got you hooked?

A: I lived in Hawaii while I was doing my graduate fieldwork in Earth science at Yale. My project involved volcanoes, forests, and the atmospheric greenhouse effect — all related to global climate. Hawaii's Big Island was an ideal field site.

I was in love with Hawaii by the end of my first day there. On the recommendation of a friend, I drove to the end of the road in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park at dusk, and then hiked out near the place where lava from the eruption on the flanks of Kilauea was pouring into the sea. As the night came on, the lava lit up bright red through the steam, and then it appeared through a thousand twinkling cracks in the rock — skylights, they call them — cascading down the mountainside. I'll never forget that moment. I was hooked.

Q: When most people think of Hawaii, they think of a tropical beach vacation. What about this expedition to Hawaii makes it unique?

A: From the gem-like white sand crescent of the north coast to the ribbons of black sand in the west to South Point's green sand beach (tinted by transparent volcanic olivine grains), Hawaii's beaches ARE among the most spectacular anywhere. And we'll see beaches. But they're just one of Hawaii's wonders. We'll see so much more.

Below the water, we'll meet Hawaii's incredible marine life. And above, we'll explore volcanoes that tower well over 30,000 feet above the surrounding ocean floor. They're tall enough to alter climate. Their eastern, windward flanks are covered with tropical rain forests and spectacular rivers and waterfalls, while savannah and deserts typify the western slopes. It's warm at sea level and cold enough to snow on top of the mountains. Clear Pacific air above the clouds lures astronomers from around the world to the summit of Mauna Kea, dotted with some of the planet's largest observatories. Nearby, the atmospheric observatory on Mauna Loa is the site where scientists first came to recognize that, year after year, atmospheric carbon dioxide was on the rise. Simply put, Hawaii is one of Earth's greatest natural laboratories.

We'll experience all this, ride horses at one of the largest cattle ranches anywhere, hike out to see the active volcano with our own eyes, and explore the cultural sites that make Hawaiian history so rich.

Q: What are you most looking forward to about the Hawaii expedition?

A: I'm certainly looking forward to being back on the Big Island — it's impossible to get enough of it. But even more than that, I'm looking forward to meeting the students. I know they'll be thoughtful, inspired and inspiring, and incredible. Every year that I've been out with Student Expeditions, I've met students who I know will become lifelong friends.

Learn More!
Read the Hawaii program description, and discover how you can explore the volcanoes with Ford this summer.

Your participation in a National Geographic Student Expedition provides support to National Geographic's mission of increasing global understanding through exploration, geography education, and research.