Back to Antarctica 2022 Season Blog

Port Lockroy team members Kit Adams and Lucy Dorman, along with Conservation Carpenter Tank Adams, are finally travelling to Port Lockroy as we approach almost two years away from Antarctica. They will carry out essential assessments and repairs to our sites as well as lay a power cable to connect Bransfield House to the solar array installed on the Nissen Hut. The team will also install a new weather station funded by our Big Give campaign and get to work on the penguin survey. While Penguin Post Office isn't reopening in its usual capacity for now, Kit and Lucy will be handling any post that arrives at Port Lockroy. Follow their journey below.

Back to Antarctica 2022 Season Blog

Port Lockroy team members Kit Adams and Lucy Dorman, along with Conservation Carpenter Tank Adams, are finally travelling to Port Lockroy as we approach almost two years away from Antarctica. They will carry out essential assessments and repairs to our sites as well as lay a power cable to connect Bransfield House to the solar array installed on the Nissen Hut. The team will also install a new weather station funded by our Big Give campaign and get to work on the penguin survey. While Penguin Post Office isn't reopening in its usual capacity for now, Kit and Lucy will be handling any post that arrives at Port Lockroy. Follow their journey below.

Antarctica in Sight returns for a new season

11/10/2022

As the field team prepare for their journey south to Port Lockroy, we are also putting the final touches to our public engagement programme here in the UK. Antarctica In Sight will bring the wonders of polar science and exploration closer to you, through a new season of online broadcasts and face-to-face events.

This month, we will announce fifteen new science education projects in local communities across the country, supported through our Antarctica in the Community small grants scheme, delivered in partnership with the British Science Association. Expect everything from creative activity days to outdoor science projects with communities from a diverse range of different backgrounds and walks of life, all discovering the fascinating stories of Antarctica.

In November, we will welcome arts, culture and heritage organisations, early career artists and polar professionals to Cambridge for Antarctica: Catalyst for Culture, a series of round table discussions on the creative sector’s engagement with climate science.

This autumn will also see the return of our ever-popular online webinar events, Antarctica In Sight: Live! We will be joined by an exciting roster of expert guests and Antarctic enthusiasts to discuss epic shipwrecks, flat pack architecture, Antarctic Christmas menus and more. Events will go on sale later this month, so watch this space.

Meanwhile, January will mark the launch of the third season of our acclaimed podcast series, A Voyage to Antarctica, presented by The Economist’s Alok Jha and produced by Jessica Norman. The new series will explore everything from mysterious marine lifeforms to the psychology of Antarctic exploration. Now is the perfect time to catch up on previous episodes on your favourite platform.

With the conservation team heading to Damoy Point in February to restore and repaint the former air transit facility, you can also expect some special events and activities celebrating this unique 'airport on ice'.

Find out more about our public engagement programme.

 

Lawrence Becko, Creative Producer

Many historic expeditions and explorers, including the men of Operation Tabarin (a top secret mission to Antarctica during World War II) have followed this same route to Antarctica. Whilst I set sail on a modern ship, the 14 men of Operation Tabarin left Stanley on 2 small ships, one of which was not ice strengthened. Not only did they have the dangers of a polar expedition in front of them, but also the potential threat of enemy forces during WWII.

This film captures the 134ft HMS William Scorseby at sea in Feb 1944 (Reproduced courtesy of BAS Archives, Ref AD6/16/1944/1.1).

We, like our polar ancestors, are now heading South through the furious 50°'s and eventually to the screaming 60°’s, where the winds batter the Southern Ocean, with terrifying intensity. I cannot begin to imagine what it would have been on The Scorseby, with the men of Operation Tabarin in such weather. I am hoping to experience some of the beauty and wonder of Antarctica's wildlife on my journey there. With perhaps a small bit of Antarctic adventure thrown in. Although perhaps I should be careful what I wish for!

Follow the team's progress on social media using #BacktoAntarctica

Read the team's blog from the beginning

Read Sally's next blog