Dan Buettner

Dan Buettner is an internationally recognized researcher, explorer, and New York Times bestselling author and National Geographic Fellow. He founded Blue Zones^®, a company that puts the world’s best practices in longevity and well-being to work in people’s lives. Buettner's National Geographic cover story on longevity, "The Secrets of Living Longer" was one of their top-selling issues in history and a made him a finalist for a National Magazine Award. His books The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest (2008) and Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way (2010) appeared on many best seller lists and were both featured on Oprah.

In 2009, Dan Buettner and his partner, AARP , applied principles of The Blue Zones to Albert Lea, Minnesota and successfully raised life expectancy and lowered health care costs by some 40%. He’s currently working with Healthways to implement the program in the Beach Cities of Los Angeles. Their strategy focuses on optimizing the health environment instead of individual behavior change. Writing in Newsweek, Harvard University's Walter Willet called the results "stunning."

Dan also holds three world records in distance cycling and has won an Emmy Award for television production.

Mr. Buettner is also the founder of Quest Network, which provides students with opportunities to engage in exploration.