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A scientific legacy: happy 100th birthday Sir David Attenborough

As Sir David Attenborough turns 100, we celebrate his legacy and contribution to our frozen planet.

"His work has changed generations. Being on the ship, with a presence of the man himself, is a reminder that we carry that duty as well."

Roseanne Smith, paleoclimate specialist

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Earth's Oldest Ice

Final ice core samples from the Beyond EPICA – Oldest Ice project have reached Europe for analysis, marking another milestone in one of British Antarctic Survey’s biggest European collaborations.

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“This is a historic moment – we now have the longest continuous record from ice cores, providing a blueprint to Earth’s climate."

Liz Thomas, Head of Ice Core Research

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One Antarctic bay, 28 years: why long-term monitoring at Rothera matters

Scientists have been monitoring the ocean at Rothera Research Station almost without interruption since 1997.

"It's never your data set: you're just the person looking after it for that time. I knew I was handing it over to someone as passionate."

Allie Clement, Science Coordinator and former Ocean Scientist at Rothera Research Station

Not all icebergs are equal – and that matters for the climate, new study finds

Scientists studying world's largest and most famous icebergs find surprising differences in how they affect ocean life.

"We knew the icebergs could affect the waters around them differently, but the scale of that difference was a real shock."

Laura Taylor, biogeochemist

Pod of orca swimming alongside A23a giant iceberg

Antarctica

Antarctica is Earth's largest and most pristine wilderness. Consequently, it offers an unparalleled natural laboratory for scientific research.

Polar science

From ancient ice cores to space weather, discover that what happens at the poles matters to everyone.

Polar capabilities

We operate the UK’s polar research infrastructure to supporting scientific discovery. For our own scientists, and for other British and international researchers

Our state-of-the-art polar science ship provides scientists access to remote and challenging marine environments across the Antarctic and Arctic. It is equipped with a suite of scientific and operational facilities for understanding oceans and their role in Earth's ecosystem.