Charlotte graduated from University with a BA in Drama and Classical Archaeology and a MA in Social Anthropology (Specialising in Visual Anthropology).
During her MA she lived and filmed with a community of Maya deep in the Central American rainforest for her research and discovered, what the archaeological remains of Belize, hold for the Maya people of today.
In 2019, she was named the Scientific Exploration Societies River Foundation Explorer for Health and Humanities 2019.
With this award she returned to live with the Maya of Central America to produce educational resources in their native language, explore the surrounding jungle for ancient Maya archaeology and deliver dental hygiene workshops.
She is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a member of The Explorers Club.
In addition she is an author and educator, currently working remotely from a small volcanic island in the South Atlantic Ocean.
When she is not exploring, she enjoys boxing and weightlifting.
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Show notes
Who is Charlotte
Spending time in Central America
Living and teaching in the South Atlantic Ocean
Growing up in the countryside
Her dreams as a little girl
Not knowing what she wanted to do with her life
Deciding to study Drama and Classical Archaeology
Doing her Masters in Social Anthropology (Specialising in Visual Anthropology).
What is Anthropology?
Deciding to spend time with the Maya people
Organising her first expedition at 23 years old
Wanting to study the Ancient Maya culture
Planning and funding the expedition
Making some mistakes on the first expedition
Spending a month with the Maya people and what that entailed
What a typical day was like
Gender roles and how they are changing
The importance of family and friends
Eco Tourism and the community
The languages spoken
Working in the film industry and wanting to keep her options open
Applying for an expedition to Kenya in 2018 as a filmmaker
Magical moments with wildlife while in Kenya
What happens with regards to filming and the role of film co-ordinator
Advice for aspiring filmmakers
The challenges of filming in the heat
SES Rivers Foundation Explorer 2019
The financial awards available
The 2nd expedition to the Maya in early 2020
The logistics of planning for a larger expedition
Hearing about Covid via the radio while being in the jungle
Working with the children and writing down the myths and legends from the culture
Working with local members of the community on special projects
The loss of the local language
Trekking through jungle and swimming in water caves
What does adventure and exploration mean
Tips and advice for women who want to do more solo adventures
The importance of being prepared
Giving talks in girls schools and giving advice for girls who want to get into the sciences and engineering
What’s next for Charlotte
Being interested in Medical Expeditions
Final words of advice
Social Media
Website www.charlotteaustwick.co.uk
Instagram @charlotteaustwick
Twitter @casa1009
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