World-renowned explorer and author Sir Ranulph Fiennes will be the featured speaker at Cal Poly Pomona's Kellogg Distinguished Public Lecture Series.

Fiennes, whom the Guinness Book of Records dubbed the "World's Greatest Living Explorer," will discuss "Living Dangerously" on Thursday, Jan. 22 at the Bronco Student Center, Ursa Major.

Check-in for the event is 6 p.m., when a light dinner will be provided. The lecture will start at 7 and a question-and-answer session will follow at 8. The event is open to the public, but registration is required. No photography or video recording is allowed.

The United Kingdom's Daily Telegraph has listed Fiennes "One of the World's Top 10 Speakers."

The adventurer received the Sultan of Oman's Bravery Medal in 1970, the Explorers Club of New York Medal in 1983, the Royal Scottish Geographical Society's Livingstone Gold Medal in 1983, and the Royal Geographical Society's Founder's Medal in 1984. Both he and his late wife received the Polar Medal in 1987.

Noted for his charitable giving, he was awarded an Order of the British Empire distinction for "human endeavor and charitable services" in 1993.

He has raised about £16 million for charities in the United Kingdom.

He raised large amounts for charities through his expeditions, and he has completed 22 major expeditions to remote parts of the globe, including the North and South poles.

He suffered a massive heart attack in 2003, which required a double-bypass operation. Less than four months later, he ran seven marathons in as many days and on as many continents.

In 2005, he raised £2 million for the British Heart Foundation's new research MRI scanner by making an ascent to within 300 meters of the Mount Everest summit ridge. His 2007 climb up the North Face of Eiger raised £1.8 million for Marie Curie Cancer Care's Delivering Choice Programme.

His climb to the summit of Everest in 2009 generated nearly £3 million for the Marie Curie Cancer Center.

Fiennes has authored 22 books, including the 1991 UK bestseller "The Feather Men," "My Heroes" in 2011, "Cold" in 2013, and "Agincourt" in September 2014. "The Feather Men" was released as a major motion picture titled "Killer Elite" in 2011.

The Kellogg Lectures Steering Committee hopes to receive input from the university community regarding future distinguished speakers. Recommendations for a speaker are invited.

Visit www.kellogglectures.org for more information.