George Kourounis

George Kourounis (born 22 May 1970) is a Canadian explorer, storm chaser, television presenter, and science communicator, best known for documenting extreme natural phenomena around the globe. He is an Explorer-in-Residence for the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, a National Geographic Explorer, and the former Canadian Chapter Chair of The Explorers Club. Kourounis is widely recognized for his adventurous fieldwork, having filmed in more than 80 countries and on all seven continents, often placing himself in the heart of natural disasters to document their impacts and contribute to scientific research.

George Kourounis
Born	(1970-05-22) 22 May 1970 (age 55) Hull, Quebec, Canada
Occupation(s)	professional adventurer, storm chaser, motivational speaker, television presenter
Website	Stormchaser.ca

Career

Kourounis began his career in the late 1990s as a professional explorer, specializing in extreme weather and natural disaster documentation. His work has included chasing hurricanes and tornadoes, descending into active volcanoes, exploring remote caves, and venturing to some of the planet’s most hazardous environments.

One of his most notable achievements includes leading a National Geographic-funded expedition to the Darvaza gas crater in Turkmenistan, where he became the first person to descend to the crater’s floor to collect microbial soil samples, leading to the discovery of new extremophile bacteria.^[1] He has conducted technical descents into numerous volcanoes including Ambrym and Yasur in Vanuatu, Nyiragongo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Erta Ale in Ethiopia, often guiding others alongside him.

He has documented over 100 tornadoes across the U.S. Great Plains and tracked 20+ hurricanes, including Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy. Kourounis also completed the first rope traverse over Dominica’s Boiling Lake and has explored extreme environments such as the Naica Crystal Cave in Mexico and remote regions of North Korea.

Television Work

Kourounis is best known as the host of the television series Angry Planet,^[2] which aired for four seasons and was broadcast in over 100 countries. The series explored the world’s most volatile environments and brought viewers face-to-face with extreme natural events. He also appeared as co-host and videographer for Stormhunters on The Weather Network.^[3]

He is a frequent contributor to several Science Channel series, including Mytseries From Above, Prime Suspect: Earth, and Strange Evidence, and has made appearances on major networks such as National Geographic, Discovery Channel, History Channel, BBC, CNN, and Netflix (72 Most Dangerous Places to Live).

Kourounis entered television work with numerous appearances in weather documentary programs featuring severe weather and natural disasters. Kourounis has been a guest on television programs, including CTV Newsnet, CNN's Anderson Cooper 360, BBC-TV, and Discovery Channel’s Daily Planet.

Public Speaking and Outreach

A highly sought-after keynote speaker, Kourounis has delivered five TEDx talks and presented to audiences ranging from corporate groups to schoolchildren. He addressed the United Nations Environmental Emergencies Forum in Oslo and appeared at Ontario’s WE Day event before 6,000 students.^[4]

He also serves as a board member and regular lecturer for Exploring By The Seat Of Your Pants, a non-profit connecting students with scientists and explorers through live video links. In 2018, he conducted a live classroom broadcast from Antarctica via satellite.

Travel and Expedition Work

Kourounis has worked extensively as a guest lecturer for travel and expedition companies, including Cunard Cruise Lines, Lindblad/National Geographic, Exodus Travels, Maple Leaf Adventures, and Ponant. His travel has taken him to regions including the Canadian Arctic, the Silk Road, Madagascar, Antarctica, Siberia, Nepal, Borneo, and many more.^[5]

From 2004 to 2015, he guided tornado chasing tours across Tornado Alley in the United States, forecasting weather and ensuring safety for thrill-seeking clients.

Afffiliations

Kourounis holds fellowships with the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (as Explorer-in-Residence), The Explorers Club (former Canadian Chapter Chair), and the Royal Geographical Society (UK).

Awards and Recognitions

·       Guinness World Record – First person to reach the bottom of the Darvaza gas crater, Turkmenistan.

·       Leif Erikson Exploration Award – Presented by The Exploration Museum in Iceland (2020).

·       Stefansson Medal – Awarded by The Explorers Club for outstanding contributions to science and public education (2014).

·       Citation of Merit – From the Canadian Chapter of The Explorers Club.

·       RCGS 90th Anniversary Medal – For contributions to geographical knowledge and outreach.

·       Medal from The Explorers Museum (Ireland) – For courageous contributions to scientific research (2015).

·       Gemini Award Nominations – Two nominations for his hosting work on Angry Planet (2008 and 2009).

·       Named one of Canada’s Top 100 Explorers by Canadian Geographic magazine.