Some of them took up personal challenges, like climbing the world's highest mountains or crossing oceans and deserts; others have joined space programs or pursued scientific research. Some were seeking new places to live. All were and are pioneers. While some are world-famous, others deserve to be better-known.

Among them are Jeanne Baret (France), first woman to circumnavigate the globe; Amelia Earhart (USA) pioneer pilot; Junko Tabei (Japan) first woman to climb Everest; Aud 'the Deep-Minded' (Scandinavia), leader of settlement in Iceland; Mae Carol Jemison (USA), first black woman in space; Mary Anning (England), fossil discoverer; Sylvia Earle (USA), underwater explorer and ocean conservation campaigner; Arunima Sinha (India), first female amputee to climb Mount Everest.