BUCKiT® #8-Dr. Albert Lin: National Geographic Explorer & “21st-Century Indiana Jones”

Warning: episode contains an instance of swearing. May not be appropriate for small children. Dr. Albert Lin is a National Geographic explorer, engineer, and technologist who has a brilliant talent for storytelling. Described by many as the “21st-Century Indiana Jones”, his engineering background, coupled with his unending curiosity and thirst for adventure, allow him to combine modern technology with the world of exploration in order to uncover some of history’s best kept secrets. It is this unique skill set that allowed him to lead the first ever western team on an archaeological search for Genghis Khan’s tomb in a sacred area called Ikh Khorig, or “The Great Taboo”, in Mongolia. In this podcast, Albert takes us on a journey into the harrowing moments that surrounded his exploration into Ikh Khorig and explains the importance of understanding Genghis Khan’s legacy. Additionally, Albert describes how he was able to make crowdsourcing an incredibly effective and ground-breaking archaeological tool by giving millions of people online the power to help with the exploration in real time. Most significantly, Albert illuminates why it’s critical to be curious, explore, and seek knowledge of the human experience and world at large. Albert’s character is built on grit, determination, and extreme effort. He lost a leg in a horrific 4WD accident last year, but was skiing on his new prosthetic leg and back on National Geographic assignments just weeks later. Also a family man, Albert seeks to pass on his own inquisitive nature and adventurous spirit to his two young boys. "We have to decide why progress is important. Is it to create things that could make us obsolete, or is it to create tools to help us become more human?"-Albert Lin