Dr. David Keeling is the Distinguished Professor of Cultural Geography at Western Kentucky University and recent recipient of the Alan Hay Award for transportation research from the Royal Geographical Society. His research interests include the geography of exploration and discovery, geopolitics, regional cultures, and socio-economic change in global communities. He provides a physical and cultural context for each expedition destination, focusing on its unique characteristics and highlighting key themes both during lectures and in conversations throughout the journey.

David has published many books and articles on geography, development, and culture, and he has lectured on over 40 expeditions across the globe since the early 1990s, including small-ship cruises and luxury jet expeditions. His recent research includes cultural identity in Argentina; the aviation industry; and the geography of rock-and-roll music. He has visited over 2,000 unique destinations for study, research, work, life, and lectures.

Born in England, he spent 12 years in Australia before arriving in the U.S. in 1981. He has lived in Bowling Green, Kentucky, since 1993.

Language spoken: English