National Geographic Honors Earth Day with Multiple Activations on April 22

Looking to Celebrate Earth Day? National Geographic Offers a One-Stop Shop to Make You Smarter About the State of the Planet; Practical Ways to Get Involved; and Programming, Videos and Photos to Inspire You Along the Way Celebration Includes Dedicated Wi-Fi Network and Recharging Tent for Participants at the March for Science; Sponsorship of the Earth Optimism Summit in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON (April 19, 2017) - National Geographic is commemorating Earth Day's 47th anniversary on April 22, 2017, including celebrating one of the greatest scientists of all, Albert Einstein, at this year's March for Science on April 22. The March for Science is an unprecedented global gathering of scientists and science advocates joining together to acknowledge the vital role science plays in our lives and the need to encourage research that gives us insight into the world. At the event, which will take place on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., National Geographic will be hosting a Genius-branded tent that will offer marchers free Wi-Fi and a place to recharge their phones. National Geographic Channel's new series Genius, a scripted, 10-part global event that premieres on April 25 and stars Geoffrey Rush as Albert Einstein, reveals how Albert became Einstein and explores his extraordinary achievements. As Einstein himself once said, "Science can only flourish in an atmosphere of free speech." While charging their phones and relaxing in the tent, marchers will be able to watch clips from the highly anticipated show. Watch the series trailer here.

Beyond the march, National Geographic is bringing Einstein back to life via a conversational chatbot on Facebook. Using natural text input, the chatbot will allow users to engage in free-flowing conversation with the show's title character one-on-one, discussing his early life, how he feels about the March for Science and the series' major plot points. Check out a demo video of the bot here or start chatting with Einstein here.

In addition, National Geographic is sponsoring and participating in this year's Earth Optimism Summit from April 21-23. The summit, led by Smithsonian Conservation Commons, convenes scientists to discuss and share solutions for preserving biodiversity and addressing climate change. The Summit is hosting thousands of thought leaders, researchers, artists, civic leaders, media and conservation-minded citizens this year. In addition to National Geographic Explorers and executives speaking on panels at the Summit, National Geographic will be hosting an interactive exhibit space featuring Earth Day-focused content and National Geographic Explorers in the "Innovation Commons," which will be open to the public.

Powerful visual storytelling is and always has been at the core of National Geographic's mission to further understanding of the world. For the first time ever, National Geographic is holding a flash sale from now until midnight on Earth Day: Prints by 22 National Geographic photographers that celebrate the rich diversity of our Earth will be available to buy as signed, 9.5"x 9.5" unframed prints, priced at $100 each. The sale, presented by National Geographic Creative, includes both classic and contemporary photography by photographers such as Cory Richards, Ami Vitale, David Guttenfelder and Paul Nicklen, and is available at www.NGCreativeFlashSale.com.

Finally, Nat Geo WILD is celebrating Earth Day with a special premiere of Mission Critical: Animals of the Year on Sunday, April 23, at 8/7c. This special is the latest installment of the network's inspiring monthly Mission Critical strand that highlights important work being done by today's wildlife warriors. Take a look at some of our favorite animals in 2017, and how their populations are faring around the world. Discover what challenges animals such as whales and apes are facing today, and what we can do to give them hope for the future.

National Geographic has focused on environmental and climate literacy for over a decade as a way to empower individuals with the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions about our planet. Please visit our Earth Day-focused digital content online at www.NationalGeographic.com and our climate change hub at www.natgeo.com/climatechange or visit the National Geographic booth at the Earth Optimism Summit this Earth Day.

About National Geographic Partners LLC

National Geographic Partners LLC (NGP), a joint venture between National Geographic and 21st Century Fox, is committed to bringing the world premium science, adventure and exploration content across an unrivaled portfolio of media assets. NGP combines the global National Geographic television channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO, Nat Geo PEOPLE) with National Geographic's media and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children's media; and ancillary activities that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, licensing and e-commerce businesses. Furthering knowledge and understanding of our world has been the core purpose of National Geographic for 129 years, and now we are committed to going deeper, pushing boundaries, going further for our consumers ... and reaching over 730 million people around the world in 172 countries and 43 languages every month as we do it. NGP returns 27 percent of our proceeds to the nonprofit National Geographic Society to fund work in the areas of science, exploration, conservation and education. For more information visit natgeotv.com or nationalgeographic.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

About the National Geographic Society

The National Geographic Society is a leading nonprofit that invests in bold people and transformative ideas in the fields of exploration, scientific research, storytelling and education. We support educators to ensure that the next generation is armed with geographic knowledge and global understanding. We aspire to create a community of change, advancing key insights about our planet and probing some of the most pressing scientific questions of our time. Our goal is measurable impact: furthering exploration and educating people around the world to inspire solutions for the greater good. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.org.

Want to become a National Geographic Explorer? Learn how you can apply for a grant from the National Geographic Society here.