2 minute read
Our Experts
1
Michelle was super prepared, super knowledgeable, super insightful, and an expert in every way. She is magnetic and dynamic, and an exceptional speaker. – Smithsonian Journeys traveler
Travel With Our Experts
Gain In-Depth Understanding and a Sense of Wonder
Among the experts who accompany you on your journey are scholars from around the world who possess an in-depth understanding of their field, whether it’s history, culture, the natural world, geology, astronomy, or the fine arts. They are selected for their expertise in the destination and are eager to share their passion, knowledge, and insights about the places you’re exploring. Our travelers continue to tell us that our experts are a major reason they come back to Smithsonian Journeys again and again. Meet some of our experts here and learn about the tours they will lead in the pages that follow. Visit our website to find a full list of our experts, and read their biographies and accolades shared by our travelers.
1. Michelle Thaller – astrophysicist with over two decades of science communication experience. Michelle will join Treasures of the Alps (see page 48) and the new Solar Eclipse 2024: A Journey from Austin to the Texas Hill Country (see page 77). 2. Jonathan Øverby – ethnomusicologist, conductor, and lyric baritone. Jonathan will join Heart of Scotland: A One-Week Stay in Stirling, which features the Edinburgh Military Tattoo (see page 57). 3. Rafael Chacón – professor of art history and criticism who lectures on a broad range of art historical subjects. Rafael will join Ancient Egypt and the Nile (see page 87). 4. Elisabeth Ward – expert in Scandinavian languages and literature, and assistant of the Smithsonian Institution’s past traveling exhibition, "Vikings: The North Atlantic Saga." Elisabeth will join our Iceland Voyage (see page 66), where she has both lived and studied. 5. Geoff Cox – New Zealand author and illustrator with expertise in the natural sciences, the environment, and marine biology. Geoff will join our our new cruise, New Zealand’s South Island by Sea: A Voyage to the Fiordland (see page 104). 6. Pamela Spratlen – diplomat, public speaker, and former ambassador in Central Asia. Pamela will join The Silk Road: A Journey to Central Asia (see page 101).
3
Rafael made the trip exceptional, and that’s how we describe the difference between Smithsonian and other tours. – Barbara M.
5
