“The Story of Polar Exploration & Arctic Frontiers in a Changing Climate” by John Ash & Robert Headland

The speakers have extensive knowledge of polar research and are giving talks on historical activities and current concerns. Their biographical details are given below. Much UK interest in these areas is based at the Scott Polar Research Institute [SPRI] which was established in 1920 at the University of Cambridge as a centre of excellence in the study of the Arctic and Antarctic. The Institute also houses the World’s premier Polar Library and a Polar Museum with displays of both the history and contemporary significance of the Arctic and Antarctic regions. SPRI’s mission is to enhance the understanding of the polar regions through scholarly research, publication, educating generations of polar researchers, caring for and making accessible its collections and projecting the history and environmental significance of the polar regions to the wider community for public benefit.

Programme
9.30 Registration
10.00 Unveiling the Arctic [Bob Headland] – An historical overview of Arctic discovery and exploration. This lecture is richly illustrated.
11.00 Coffee / Tea
11.30 Exploring Arctic Frontiers in a Changing Climate [John Ash] – Concepts of Arctic exploration.
12.30 Lunch – Bring-Your-Own – Tea / Coffee available
1.30 Shackleton [Bob Headland] – Ernest Shackleton’s story.
2.30 Tea / Coffee
3.00 Sledge Dogs & Sovereignty [John Ash] – The Sirius Patrol
4.00 Departure

Speakers – Dr John Ash is a former Royal Navy submariner and oceanographer. He was involved in the collection of data in the Arctic Ocean to support the study of thinning in the polar ice pack – some of the earliest evidence of climate change. Selected to lead a team of Russian researchers at Cambridge University examining radionuclide pollution in the Northern Seas, he has also held a British Safety Council Fellowship at the Judge Institute of Management Studies at the University of Cambridge. John’s peer-reviewed publications address topics including climate change and conflict in the Arctic, the relationship between Arctic fisheries protection and sovereignty, and the security implications of Greenlandic independence. An Associate Professor at UiT, Norway’s Arctic University, John has presented oral evidence before the House of Commons Defence Sub-Committee examining UK defence in the Arctic.
Bob Headland is a senior associate of SPRI. His work concerns human effects on Polar Regions, especially the smaller islands and archipelagos. Archival details and other historical records – from the earliest expeditions to recent events – have allowed him to provide data for studies of long periods of climatic variation with glaciological and biological changes in the Polar Regions. An advisor to several expeditionary organizations and departments of government, Bob is also a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a member of the Institute for Historical Research, University of London, where he delivers lectures for several courses. The author of several books and papers on polar subjects, Bob is a member of both the Arctic Club and the Antarctic Club. He was awarded the Polar Medal in 1984.

For full information please see the BOOKING FORM