The Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI) and Polar Museum, Cambridge, UK

NimrodTerra NovapemmicanUniversity of CambridgeendeavourTerra Nova expeditionNimrod expeditionShackletonErnest ShackletonCaptain Robert Falcon ScottCaptain ScottArctic explorationexplorationArcticAntarcticPolar Museum Cambridge UKScott Polar Research Institute SPRICambridge UKPolar MuseumSPRIScott Polar Research Institute
Written By Chris Shirley MA FRGS

Image credit: Haus of Hiatus

The Polar Museum is a really interesting stop in the cold-environment-adventure-enthusiast’s research pathway before undertaking any kind of expedition of this kind!

 

The Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI) is co-located with the Polar Museum, and according to the website, was established in 1920 as a memorial to Captain Robert Falcon Scott and houses the Polar Library of archived photographs and historical collections on polar exploration.

 

Interestingly, the Polar Museum is understood to have the following items of Polar exploration on permanent display:

 

- Snow googles used by Ernest Shackleton on the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition 1914-16 (Endurance) – given to him by Harald Nilsen.


- An unopened tin of pemmican taken from the hut of the British Antarctic Expedition 1907-09 (Nimrod). 


- A folding camera, manufactured by A.E. Staley & Co. and used by Robert Falcon Scott at the South Pole, 1912, on the British Antarctic Expedition 1910-13 (Terra Nova).

 

The Polar Museum’s website says it is currently open Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10:00-16:00, however I visited on a day it was closed sadly and only got to see a small part of it. With that in mind, it’s clearly best to check to ensure the opening times are still current, as I’d hate you to make a wasted journey if they change it.

 

You might also like:

Featured
Episode 21 ~ Christine Dennison, female pioneer in extreme ocean exploration
Episode 21 ~ Christine Dennison, female pioneer in extreme ocean exploration

In episode 21, we talk to Christine Dennison, a female pioneer in extreme ocean exploration. She co-founded Mad dog expeditions in the US and is the first woman to dive and document the remote regions of Canada's Northwest Passage and the Rio Negro in the Brazilian rainforest.

She has been championing remote adventure travel for over 20 years, whilst also mentoring young women, advocating for environmental protection, leadership and participating in ground-breaking expeditions like skiing to the North Pole and finding lost submarines.

Episode 20 ~ Cat Burford, aka 'The Molar Explorer', a dentist skiing 700+ miles to the South Pole in 2024
Episode 20 ~ Cat Burford, aka 'The Molar Explorer', a dentist skiing 700+ miles to the South Pole in 2024

In episode 20, we talk to to Cat Burford, aka ‘The Molar Explorer’, a Dentist aiming to ski 700 miles solo and unsupported to the South Pole, to fundraise for charity and increase the depth of women’s health data in Polar exploration, later this year.

We discuss the role models that inspired her to take up this epic challenge, the difficulties in getting it funded, the scientific studies it’ll be adding to, the expeditions she’s used to prepare herself for it, and the many lessons she’s learned along the way.

Episode 19 ~ Harry Amos, Pacific Ocean rower
Episode 19 ~ Harry Amos, Pacific Ocean rower

In episode 19, we talk to Harry Amos, a former Army officer and one quarter of the ‘Brothers N Oars’ ocean rowing team that successfully rowed 4,500km from California to Hawaii in 39 days.

We discuss how he had to speak to over four hundred leads to get the expedition funded, how ‘it will pass’ became the team mantra, the unique weather challenges of rowing the Pacific Ocean, breaking the rudder, deploying the para-anchor 3 times and being hit by Storm Calvin!

Chris Shirley MA FRGS

About the Author: A former Royal Marines officer and advisor to the BBC, Chris has travelled in over 60 countries, is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a Guinness World Record holder for rowing over 3500 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, a Marathon des Sables finisher, and is the founder of ‘Haus of Hiatus’, a website design and branding studio that designs and amplifies start-ups, scale-ups and special projects around the world.

He has worked with Hollywood actors, world–renowned musical artists and TV personalities, and is delighted to have had his work featured by the United Nations, Red Bull, BBC, and even seen at the South Pole!

https://www.hausofhiatus.com/team
Previous

The Royal Geographical Society (RGS) in South Kensington, London
Next

Seeing the RSS Sir David Attenborough in Greenwich, London