Amelia Earhart, Jessica Ennis-Hill, and Greta Thunberg have been named among the most inspiring women in history, according to a new study. The research, which surveyed 2,000 adults, found that 20% of participants were spurred on to face new challenges after hearing about Earhart's pioneering feat as the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Other influential women who have motivated many include sailor Ellen MacArthur, who holds the record for the fastest solo global circumnavigation (10%), along with cyclist Laura Kenny, astronaut Sally Ride, and boxer Nicola Adams, each mentioned by 10% of those surveyed.

The study, carried out by international tech brand OnePlus, emphasises a significant lack of recognition for female explorers and pioneers. While a majority (64%) of respondents agreed that the tales of pioneering women should be more widely shared to inspire others to tap into their adventurous spirit, over half (53%) confessed they couldn't name a single female explorer, whether real or fictional.

In contrast, fictional adventurers Lara Croft (63%) and Dora the Explorer (59%) were far better known than real-life trailblazers like Jane Goodall (22%) or Gertrude Bell (9%). A mere 3% of those surveyed were familiar with Dorothy Pilley, a 20th-century mountaineer who advocated for women's climbing. OnePlus is taking history to new heights with an expedition that pays tribute to the unsung female mountaineer Dorothy Pilley.

Teaming up with Elise Wortley, a modern-day adventurer, they're embarking on a journey that meticulously follows Pilley's footsteps across Corsica. Mountaineering marvel Edurne Pasaban and adventure seeker Lotta Hintsa will join Wortley in this exciting endeavour, which aims to honour Pilleys contributions and spur people to chase their exploratory dreams. Documenting their trek will be the all-new OnePlus 13 - touted as the ultimate gadget for adventurers.

Wortley expressed the importance of recognizing historic women adventurers: "Dorothy Pilley should be essential learning for all of us.". "This remarkable woman was not just one of the pioneering women mountaineers but also someone who carved her path in the world of adventure, yet a mere 3% of Brits know who she is. "We are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring her extraordinary tale to life, encouraging others to follow in the footsteps of such a fearless explorer.".

Recent findings show there's a significant gap in recognition when it comes to explorers: while figures like Charles Darwin and Marco Polo are familiar to 82% and 75% of survey participants respectively, only 56% remembered learning about female explorers at all during their education. Moreover, a striking 84% of those surveyed acknowledged that narratives of exploration and discovery tend to be skewed predominantly towards male figures.

Celina Shi, representing OnePlus Europe, stressed the significance of celebrating women pioneers: "There are so many fascinating expeditions led by women that often go forgotten. "This partnership aims to not only document the adventure but to inspire future explorers through the incredible legacy of figures like Dorothy Pilley.". Get email updates from our environment editor on green issues and actions you can take.