Roy Chapman Andrews Society

Coming Soon!
We’ll be announcing our 22nd Annual RCAS Distinguished Explorer for 2025.
Then on April 11th we’ll hold our public events.
Save the date!

SOON
2025 Event Page & Reservations

A Documentary is in the Making
MORE INFO HERE

RCAS Distinguished Explorer 2026

Dr. Nick Pyenson

Paleontologist and Curator of Fossil Marine Mammals
Smithsonian Institution

2026 Distinguished Explorer
Event Details

Thank you to everyone who attended the 2026 Distinguished Explorers Award Presentation and Acceptance Lecture. It was a memorable evening celebrating exploration, curiosity, and the legacy of Roy Chapman Andrews. We were honored to welcome Dr. Nick Pyenson as this year’s recipient and to hear his inspiring lecture, Follow the Whale Bone Road: Fossils, 3D Data, and Discovering the Past and Future of Ocean Giants. We’re also grateful to Eric Boynton, Shannon M. Fie, Ann Bausum, and Jay Zambito, along with our members, sponsors, and board, for making the event possible.

Click here to see
Nick‘s Pyenson’s Lecture

Award Presentation & Keynote Lecture

Follow the Whale Bone Road:
Fossils, 3D Data, and Discovering the Past and Future of Ocean Giants.

This FREE event will be held
Friday, April 10, 2026, 4:30 p.m. CT
Wilson Theater (Mayer Hall)
Beloit College

Celebratory fund-raising dinner immediately following at the Beloit College Powerhouse

A Documentary is in the Making
MORE INFO HERE

RCAS Distinguished Explorer 2026

Dr. Nick Pyenson

Paleontologist and Curator of Fossil Marine Mammals
Smithsonian Institution

Award Presentation & Keynote Lecture

Follow the Whale Bone Road:
Fossils, 3D Data, and Discovering the Past and Future of Ocean Giants.

This FREE event will be held
Friday, April 10, 2026, 4:30 p.m. CT
Wilson Theater (Mayer Hall)
Beloit College

Celebratory fund-raising dinner immediately following at the Beloit College Powerhouse

2026 Distinguished Explorer
Event Details
& Dinner Reservations

Click here to see
Nick‘s Pyenson’s Lecture

Roy Chapman Andrews Society Distinguished Explorer Award

The Distinguished Explorer Award

Presented to an explorer/scientist in honor of one of the 20th century’s most acclaimed explorers, Roy Chapman Andrews (1884-1960).

The award, designed by noted regional artist O.V. Shaffer recognizes outstanding achievements in scientific discovery through explorations that offer new insights into previously unknown or poorly known subjects or areas.

Learn More

Store

RCAS Store

CAE II Rephotographic Expedition in Mongolia | J.K. Cluer, M. Saandar

CAE II Rephotographic Expedition in Mongolia 2016 – 2023

By J. Kelly Cluer,
Member of the Board, Roy Chapman Andrews Society

Detail & Purchase

The Sirens of Mars

By Sarah Stewart Johnson
Our 2023 Distinguished Explorer

-- SOON --

Special thanks to these 2023 Roy Chapman Andrews Society Sponsors

Larry & Karen Arft
Michael & Kathy Egan
Amy Lokrantz
Jeff & Linda Perrigo
Steve Vavrus & Susan Swanson
Tom & Mim Warren
John & Becky Wong

Special thanks to these 2023 Roy Chapman Andrews Society Sponsors

Larry & Karen Arft
Michael & Kathy Egan
Amy Lokrantz
Jeff & Linda Perrigo
Steve Vavrus & Susan Swanson
Tom & Mim Warren
John & Becky Wong

Roy Chapman Andrews Society Distinguished Explorers

Nick Pyenson | RCAS Distinguished Explorer 2026

Nick Pyenson | 2026
Paleontologist and Curator of Fossil Marine Mammals

John Hawks | 2025
Paleoanthropology, Anthropological Genomics

Shane Campbell-Staton | 2024
Evolutionary Biologist

Sarah Stewart Johnson | 2023
Astronomer, Biologist, Geochemist

Philip Currie | 2022
Dinosaur Paleontologist, Museum Curator

Sarah Parcak | Egyptologist, Space Archaeologist

Sarah Parcak | 2021
Egyptology, Space Archaeology

Neil Shubin | 2019
Paleontology, Evolutionary Biology

Richard Alley | Geologist, Climate Scientist

Richard Alley | 2018
Geology, Climate Science

Wade Davis | 2017
Cultural Anthropology, Ethnobotany

Alan Rabinowitz | Steve Winters - Panthera

Alan Rabinowitz | 2016
Zoology, Conservation, Field Biology

Edith Widder | 2015
Deep-sea Exploration, Bioluminescence

Meg Lowman | 2014
Canopy Ecology

John Grotzinger | 2013
Mars Curiosity Expedition

Nathan Wolfe | 2012
Virology, Microbiology

Steve Lekson | 2011
Archaeology, Ancient Native American Societies

Sylvia Earle - Marine Biology, Oceanic Expeditions

Sylvia Earle | 2010
Marine Biology, Oceanic Expeditions

Paul Sereno | 2009
Paleontology

Mark Moffett| 2008
Organismic and Evolutionary Biology

Ellen & Lonnie Thompson | 2007
Paleoclimatology

Steve Squyres | 2006
Planetary Science, Mars Rover Mission

Robert Ballard | 2005
Oceanography, Maritime Archaeology (Titanic)

Mark Plotkin | 2004
Ethnobotany, Tropical Rainforest Conservation

Michael J. Novacek | American Museum of Natural History

Michael Novacek | 2003
Paleontology

Educational Opportunities for Students

Part of the Society’s mission to promote the value of scientific exploration and discovery for area youth.

DEA Recipient Lectures

Local school districts attend a student-inspired lecture by the DEA recipient. The lecture features the recipient’s explorations and includes a question & answer segment.

Student Sponsorships

Local high school students and Beloit College Students are sponsored to attend a private meet-and-greet reception with the DEA recipient.

Learn More

Who Was Roy Chapman Andrews?

Roy Chapman Andrews in Mongolia

Fossil Hunting in the Gobi – Shelf Life 360

Dinosaur Hunter?

Roy Chapman Andrews | James B Shackelford - AMNH

The Roy Chapman Andrews Society

The Roy Chapman Andrews Society was formed in 1999 by a group of Beloit, Wisconsin residents intent on building more awareness of one of the 20th Century’s most famous explorers.

Since Roy Chapman Andrews was born and raised in Beloit, it was only fitting that such a society exist in his hometown.

Explore Membership