Tag Archives: National Geographic

A Delightful Surprise in Tbilisi!

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I recently had the most unexpected and joyous experience during my travels. On the vibrant streets of Tbilisi, Georgia, I stumbled upon something that truly warmed my heart.

As I wandered through the city, I noticed the first page of my bat story for National Geographic Magazine – Georgia displayed on the wall of a charming house! It’s not every day that a writer gets this delightful surprise to see their work showcased in such a public and artistic manner. This reminds me that Storytelling is the most powerful tool ever; it can transcend borders, connect people, and change the world.

I am grateful for the opportunity to share my stories and hope that this small moment can inspire others to appreciate the magic found in unexpected places.

Warmly yours,

Bogdana Vashchenko

Exploring New Horizons at the National Geographic Summit in Amsterdam

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I recently had the fantastic opportunity to attend the National Geographic Summit in Amsterdam, and it was truly an inspiring experience! The main stage program showcased a wealth of thought-provoking discussions and innovative ideas that resonated deeply with me. Thank you, amazing Esther Horvath, Iva Njunjic, and others! You were incredible!)

One of the highlights was reconnecting with my old friends and colleagues, the incredible National Geographic Explorers. Lana Tannir, Patricia Pecnerova, Valeriia Kolodezhna—I was so glad to see you again and listen about your projects from your very hands!) It was heartwarming to share stories and experiences, reinforcing the strong bonds we’ve built over the years. I also enjoyed making new friends who share my passion for exploration and conservation. Phoebe Griffith, I am eager to know more about your crocodile tails tales!)

What excites me the most is the potential for future collaborations that emerged from our conversations. I returned home with several ideas I look forward to developing into impactful projects. 

I am looking forward to our new adventures together! The journey of exploration continues, and I can’t wait to see where it takes us next.

Warm regards,  

Bogdana Vashchenko,  National Geographic Explorer

Breaking Free from Writer’s Addiction: Four Powerful Strategies

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I’m excited to share some insights on overcoming writer’s addiction, inspired by our recent conversation in Croatia at the National Geographic Explorers Hub Meet-Up. We had a fantastic discussion about the challenges of overwriting and the dangers of burnout.

Here are four powerful strategies to help you break free from this cycle and cultivate a more sustainable writing practice in Bogdana Vashchenko’s Science Storytelling blog:

I’d love to hear from all of you! What are your go-to strategies for avoiding burnout in your writing journey? Let’s uplift each other and cultivate a sustainable writing practice!

Celebrating Women’s Voices: A Spotlight on National Geographic Explorer Bogdana Vashchenko

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We are excited to share the remarkable work of Bogdana Vashchenko, a National Geographic Storytelling Explorer, along with the talented photographer Viktor Lyagushkin. Their collaboration was recently featured on the Instagram pages of National Geographic Croatia, Turkiye, Abu Dhabi, and Serbia in honor of International Women’s Day. 

On this occasion, Bogdana reflected on legends about winged women, such as the Swan Princess. She shared, “The meaning of these legends is that there are enough wings in this world to set us free. If you see another person in need, lend them your helping wing—at least one feather.” 

Every voice matters, and every act of kindness is significant. 

Bogdana and Viktor’s partnership showcased powerful stories of women from various cultures, combining stunning visuals with meaningful narratives that resonate deeply. These posts emphasized the importance of women’s struggles for identity and equal rights, inspiring us to appreciate the diverse experiences of women around the world.

The Greater Noctule Bat on Pages of National Geographic Magazine – Georgia

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I am thrilled to share our work in the final issue of National Geographic Magazine—Georgia for 2024. In this article, I showcase the inspiring journey of the Ilias State University of Georgia researchers team as they successfully located and captured the greater noctule bat (Nyctalus lasiopterus), a species that has eluded Georgian scientists since 1971!

Text by: Bogdana Vashchenko Photography by: Viktor Lyagushkin

Georgian Bats At The Tbilisi Zoo

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While bats are still sleeping here in Georgia, On March 16th, I lectured at the Tbilisi Zoo Educational Center on Bats in the World and Georgia. Ioseb Natradze, an Assistant researcher at the Laboratory of Vertebrate Animals of the Institute of Zoology of the llia State University of Georgia, and I talked about how incredible these creatures are, their Super Skills, and their importance to ecosystems. 

The students were super interested in all sorts of things, like what bats eat, their social structure, how they give birth, and how they fly. We only left the Educational Center because the room was needed for the following class.

In our next discussion, we will focus on studying bats’ contribution to Tbilisi’s sound environment with the help of researchers from the Ilia State University. I want to thank Irma Bochorishvili for providing us with this fantastic opportunity.

Editor’s Column For National Geographic Magazine – Georgia

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The Editor-In-Cheif traditional foreword in the January 2024 issue of National Geographic Magazine – Georgia is almost all about bats and our cover feature story, published in. Text: Bohdana Vashchenko, photography: Viktor Lyagushkin.

Thank you, Ketevan Chumburidze, for your help and work! It was a great pleasure to collaborate with you and all the team on the story.

The project was funded by the National Geographic Society.

ფანტასტიკური არსებები

Picture Of The Year – National Geographic Magazine – Georgia

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One more of our bats flies between rows of vines on the pages of the December 2023 issue of National Geographic Magazine – Georgia, hunting insect pests. The issue collected the best pictures of the year, and I am proud to say the photograph from our project, Bats of Georgia, is included. Congratulations to the photographer, Viktor Lyagushkin. 

Bat Cover Story in National Geographic Magazine – Georgia

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Look what I have! I am holding something very special! My bat cover feature story, Night Shift, is inside National Geographic Magazine — Georgia!

It’s all over: terrifying moments when nothing worked, when we couldn’t find bat colonies and perform photo shooting or the animals escaped and stultified our efforts; moments full of joy when we got more than expected; hot summer fieldwork when we dreamed the night would come quickly and bring some coolness.  

Stunning bat photographs by Viktor Lyagushkin (Vitya, CONGRATULATIONS!), ten spreads, 3,000 words, 67 days in the field.

It is winter here in Georgia, and our wingy models are hibernating. Sleep well, my bats; we did a great job!

Many thanks to the editorial team of National Geographic Magazine – Georgia for the fantastic work and great layout and your hints and ideas! Ruso and Katie, you are the best! Thank you, chiropterologists Ioseb (Soso) Natradze, Giorgi Sheklashvili, Alexander Bukhnikashvili, and Andrey Kandaurov, for your patience, friendly support, and knowledge; it was so lovely to work with you! Many thanks to Valeri Barbaqadze for your expertise in caves and to Amiran and Irina Tkabladze for your kindness and hospitality.