British Antarctic Survey

Workshop on Polar Winter Climate and Processes
2025-04-23 11:00 - 2025-04-25 13:00 (Europe/London) | British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB3 0ET, United Kingdom
Polar Winter Climate and Processes: Towards Filling Knowledge Gaps in the Understanding of the Coupled Climate System

Recordings – (accessible only for participants registered)
Download the Workshop Programme PDF
Accommodations PDF

Polar winter plays a critical role in various processes, including sea ice growth, snow accumulation, surface energy balance, atmospheric dynamics and chemistry. Current climate models struggle to accurately represent polar weather and climate, especially during winter. These significant discrepancies hinder the reliability of these models in predicting and projecting future conditions in the Arctic and Antarctica.

While previous studies have predominantly focused on summer, it is crucial to explore winter conditions to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the entire climate system. To address this need, we organize a workshop titled “Polar Winter Climate and Processes.” This workshop aims to bring together diverse research communities to examine the physical and chemical processes in the interconnected atmosphere, cryosphere, marine, and terrestrial systems. Our goal is to facilitate the exchange of ideas, present recent findings, and identify knowledge gaps in our understanding of the overall climate system.
We invite contributions from all relevant disciplines and areas, including observation (in stiu and remote sensing), modeling, and theoretical research.

Themes to focus:
Theme 1: Polar winter storms and climate impacts, linking to

Extreme event

Blowing snow

Warm air intrusion

Cold air outbreak

Sea ice evolution (open leads, polynyas, melt)

Air-sea-ice interaction

Surface mass balance for icesheet/iceshelf

Surface energy budget

Permafrost deepening

Atmospheric boundary layer processes

Theme 2: Polar winter aerosol, clouds and chemistry

CCN, INPs and sources

Aerosol budget and composition

Cloud-aerosol interaction

Arctic Haze

Snow chemistry and climate impacts

Biogeochemistry

Theme 3: Polar-mid-latitude and polar-lower-latitude teleconnections, involving e.g.

Atmospheric river

Polar vortex

Jet stream

Storm track

Atmospheric blocking

Rossby wave

Theme 4: Knowledge gaps to fill

New theory or mechanism and parameterisations

New technology observation (from buoys, stations, ships, aircraft and satellites) active or automatic – via new international research programs, e.g. IPY, InSync, etc

New modelling approaches

Keynote speakers:

Ola Persson (CIRES/NOAA, USA) on storm/sea ice

Martin Radenz (TROPOS, Germany) on aerosol/cloud remote sensing

Irina Gorodetskaya (CIIMAR, Portugal) on atmospheric river and Winter YOPP SH project

Tom Bracegirdle (BAS, UK) on extremes and EXANT project

When: 23-25 April 2025
Format: Hybrid
Where: British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
Cost: free of registration – (Early Career Researchers can apply for travel fellowship)
Please register via using this link – Note that registration closes on [March 14 2025]
Please submit your abstract using this link – Note that abstract submission closes on [March 14 2025]

Organising Committee:

Xin Yang (Chair), BAS, UK
Xiangdong Zhang (co-Chair), NCSU, USA
Alexandra Weiss, BAS, UK
Markus Frey, BAS, UK
Sergi González-Herrero, WSL Institute, Switzerland
Xianda Gong, Westlake Uni., China
Rainette Engbers, WSL Institute, Switzerland
Romy Hall, BAS, UK

What: This workshop is co-funded by the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), Climate and Cryosphere (CliC) and Surface Fluxes in Antarctica (SURFEIT), a NERC National Capability International research programme.
If you have any questions, please get in touch – Xin Yang – xinyang55@bas.ac.uk

Join us for an 'Antarctic Adventure' - A family talk by a polar scientist at Cambridge Festival 2025
2025-03-29 13:30 - 14:30 | Cockcroft Lecture Theatre, (through the Pembroke Archway), Pembroke St, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 3QY, United Kingdom
Come along to ‘Antarctic Adventure – Explore the Frozen Frontier’ – a talk aimed at anyone over 7 years old by British Antarctic Survey polar scientist Kate Hendry and marine biologist Dr Helen Scales.
Dive into an amazing Antarctic adventure to one of the most remote and challenging environments on Earth. Kate and Helen will show you how science is done around the icy continent of Antarctica. You’ll get the chance to discover incredible wildlife, help build an Antarctic food web, study giant sea spiders, listen to singing seals and find out why Antarctica is so important for the rest of the planet.

This talk is free to attend and aimed at ages 7 + – We look forward to seeing you there!

This talk is part of Cambridge Festival 2025 which takes place from 19 March to 4 April. The festival will run a series of events highlighting world-leading research happening at Cambridge. For a full round of events please visit the Cambridge Festival website.

British Antarctic Survey at the Science Museum Christmas Lates
2024-12-18 18:30 - 22:00 | Science Museum, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2DD, United Kingdom
The British Antarctic Survey invites you to join us at the Science Museum Christmas Lates. The halls will be decked for a festive celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths that makes this season truly magical!
Chat with BAS scientists about their fascinating experiences conducting research in the icy extremes of the polar regions. Step inside our cosy polar tent, try on authentic polar gear, and discover what’s on the menu for scientists working in the field.
Camping in Antarctica

Immerse yourself in the diverse and extraordinary sounds of Antarctica. Listen to The Seventh Continent, a captivating new album blending stunning original music with field recordings from one of BAS’s 2023 science missions.
Hear the rumble of the RRS Sir David Attenborough at sea, the echoes of an inlet near the world’s largest iceberg, and the enchanting calls of elephant seals and skuas.
Get ready to eat, drink, and be merry at the Science Museum’s very first festive edition of Lates. We can’t wait to see you there!
Age: 18+.
General admission is free. VIP tickets are £12.

Protecting our planet day 2024
2024-11-12 09:00 - 16:30 | Cambridgeshire
Have you got your ticket to Antarctica? This is a unique chance for you to have your name sent to Antarctica in a time capsule and follow the voyage to the ice on the RRS Sir David Attenborough. Sign up and receive weekly interactive email updates packed with stories and activities along the way.
As part of the adventure, we will now be offering the chance to join Protecting Our Planet Day (POP24), an engaging live-streamed event tailored for schools on November 12.
The full-day program features live link-up sessions with inspiring experts dedicated to addressing climate change and is brought to you by STEM Learning in collaboration with the European Space Agency and the UK Space Agency.

British Antarctic Survey will be taking part in the ‘Protecting Our Ice’ session, scheduled from 10:15 to 10:35 am. This captivating live link-up for secondary school children, will connect you with our scientists aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough and at the Rothera Research station in Antarctica.
Discover the state-of-the-art facilities on the research vessel, enabling scientists to explore the oceans, seafloor, ice, and atmosphere. Gain insights into the daily lives and work of our divers at Rothera and understand the vital role polar regions play in advancing our knowledge of the oceans, marine life, and the climate system.
For more details and to register for these sessions, visit the POP24 website. Choose to sign up for the entire day or simply drop in for the sessions with your class or the whole school!
For more information on how to sign up for Ticket to Antarctica, visit the website.

BAS-NL Science Day2024
2024-10-07 12:00 - 2024-10-08 17:00 | Aurora Cambridge, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 OET
The broad aim of the BAS-NL Science Day 2024 is to bring together researchers in BAS and researchers funded by the Netherlands Polar Program and Dutch Research Council (NWO) to showcase collaborative science and network.
Early Career Researchers are encouraged to attend! Registration is free, and refreshments will be provided.

Projects
ANT-MICI (developing indicators for monitoring the impacts of tourism, co-PI Stef Bokhorst), MACS (sea ice and DMS, PI Susanne Wilken), FIRN CAISSO (Firn cores at George VI Ice Shelf, PI Bert Wouters), Larsen C Firn project (PI Carleen Tijm-Reijmer), Marine bio invasions (PI Wilco Verberk), Hot history of Antarctic ice sheet (PI Peter Bijl), Antarctic Biota Count (PI Stef Bokhorst), the Dutch Cryosphere Consortium (PI Roderik van de Wal) & HiRISE (PI Bert Wouters).
Funded in June 2024: https://www.nwo.nl/en/news/five-projects-break-the-ice-on-antarctic-research

Preliminary programme
Monday 7 October
Morning: travel to Cambridge for external participants
14:00 – welcome with coffee and tea
14:30 – opening, introduction of BAS and NPP
15:00 – presentations of the projects
17:00 – room for practical topics (e.g. permitting, IPY, SCAR)
17:30 – drinks
A group dinner will be arranged, but will be at your own cost

Tuesday 8 October
09:00 – morning programme (ideas and topics welcome)
12:30 – lunch offered by BAS
13:30 – end of Science Day
Afternoon: time for project meetings or early travel home

UK Antarctic Science Conference 2024
2024-10-01 12:30 - 2024-10-03 12:30 | British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB3 0ET, United Kingdom
We are pleased to announce that the UK Antarctic Science Conference 2024 will take place at the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge, 1st – 3rd October 2024. The meeting aims to bring together all in the UK who are involved in Antarctic research or the support of Antarctic research.
All Antarctic topics are welcome.
Please visit and save our conference microsite for the most up-to-date information
Register for the conference

This conference will be hosted in a hybrid format.
Registration will be £25, to include lunch on the 1st and 2nd October and refreshments throughout, but will exclude accommodation and catering outside conference hours. Online participation will be available for free.
An optional informal dinner in BAS will be available on the evening of 2nd October (priced £12 and bookable via the registration page).
Please register via the conference website.

Call for abstracts

Detailed information and a link to submit your abstract is available on the conference website.
The closing date for the call for abstracts has been extended to 9am on Monday 9th September.

The conference venue, online participation & accessibility:
The in-person event will be hosted at the BAS Aurora Innovation Centre in Cambridge. Here is some information on best ways to travel to BAS. The conference will be hosted in a simple hybrid format over Zoom, and we will be looking for best practice to maximise online participation. You can get familiar with the venue and its accessibility on our website. Below are a few ways we can support individuals with different needs:

Our venue has step-free access
We can provide human assistance for guiding anyone with sight impairment
Our conference room has an audio induction loop
We will enable live captioning for all presentations
We will provide guidance to all presenters about making their presentations accessible to different needs.
We aim to build the programme with sufficient comfort breaks, and there is access to a separate wellbeing room.

If you have accessibility needs that could affect our planning, you will be able to let us know through the registration form or if you prefer you can get in touch with us at kason@bas.ac.uk..
We look forward to welcoming you here in Cambridge!

British Antarctic Survey at The Royal International Air Tattoo
2024-07-19 07:30 - 2024-07-21 19:30 | RAF Fairford, RAF Fairford, Fairford, Gloucestershire, GL7 4EG, United Kingdom
Join the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) as we soar into this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) and get an up-close encounter with one of our Twin Otter aircraft, essential for our pioneering scientific endeavours in Antarctica and beyond!
More than just an air show, this three-day extravaganza at Fairford in the picturesque Cotswolds promises to be a sensory delight. A lively and family-friendly affair, you’ll be treated to the thunderous spectacle of aircraft overhead and the jubilant cheers of spectators, with an impressive 18 hours of breath-taking flying displays and a myriad of aircraft from 25 nations on display.
Come and marvel at our distinctive Twin Otter aircraft, equipped and primed for Antarctic missions. Chat to our pilots and scientists involved in airborne scientific projects and seize the opportunity to learn about the challenges of conducting research in some of the harshest environments on the planet.
The Twin Otter fitted with skis for landing on ice in Antarctica. Photo: Adam Bradley
BAS operates four Twin Otters, which form the backbone of our operations. In a typical season, they log approximately 1300 hours of flight time in Antarctica, supporting fifteen scientific field projects. They transport scientists to their field sites, resupply them, or relocate them during the season, and then safely return the team to Antarctic research stations upon completion of their projects.
The BAS Twin Otter aircraft are crucial for operating deep field scientific research in Antarctica. Photo: Morag Hunter
The Royal International Air Tattoo takes place from 19-21 July 2024 at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire
To book your tickets, visit the RIAT website

Ice on show at Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition
2024-07-02 18:00 - 2024-07-07 18:00 | Royal Society, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AG, United Kingdom
British Antarctic Survey and the University of Cambridge will be at the 2024 Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, talking all about how we’re unlocking the past using ice cores from Antarctica.
The ice cores team explain how bubbles of air trapped in ice can unlock the secrets of the past. BAS.
This annual event is a free, interactive experience for anyone curious about the latest advances in science and technology. With more than 300 scientists and 14 flagship exhibits, there’s something for everyone. And if you can’t make it in person, there will be plenty of online content including livestream demos and interviews!
In partnership with the University of Cambridge, our researchers will be showcasing how by unlocking the past we can understand and determine the future.

Unlocking the Past
Beneath the surface of Antarctica lies a pristine record of the ancient atmosphere. By drilling down thousands of metres into the ice sheet we can recover samples of ice from nearly one million years ago. The bubbles trapped in the ice are tiny bottles of ancient air. We use them to determine how greenhouse gases have changed in the past. We can also use the ice that entombs this air to understand how the temperature has changed over time.

Understanding the Present
Ice core data suggests that in the past some parts of the Antarctic ice sheet suddenly became unstable over just a few centuries.
Scientists are doing research to see if the same processes are happening today. There is evidence that parts of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet may be reaching a tipping point, beyond which irreversible melting could occur. This could dramatically raise global sea levels affecting millions of people.

Determining the Future
What we learn from ice cores about the past informs us about the changes we may see in the future.
Our choices and actions today will have a huge impact on how climate change will unfold in the coming decades.
The more we limit climate change, the less likely we are to reach tipping points, lose Antarctic ice and raise sea levels.

NERC Tech Forum 2024
2024-06-10 12:00 - 2024-06-12 14:00 | British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB3 0ET, United Kingdom
Sponsored by

What is the NERC Tech Forum?
The NERC Tech Forum is an old concept that we’re bringing back. It is intended to be a regular (annual or biennial) meeting where engineers and technologists from all the NERC centres and affiliated institutes can find out what other bits of NERC are doing. In this forum our definition of technology is the equipment and systems that help us to deliver science and encompasses:
· Instrumentation
· Sampling equipment
· Hardware platforms
· Model development
· Analysis techniques
· Software engineering
Who is it for?
Anyone involved in the above, especially encouraging new employees in NERC who haven’t built networks outside their home institute.
What do we want to achieve?
· The primary aim of the meeting is networking within technology areas in NERC
· This is also an opportunity for technologists to engage with professionals in a similar area outside of their home institute
· Finally, through strategic links with NERC colleagues this creates an opportunity to influence NERC about how technology is delivered
For further questions about the event please email Pilvi Saarikoski at pilchi@bas.ac.uk.
Click here to see the agenda.
In-person registration is closes on June 3rd and online registration on June 6th.

British Antarctic Survey at the National Maritime Museum
2024-06-08 10:00 - 16:00 | National Maritime Museum, Park Row, Greenwich, London, SE10 9NF, United Kingdom
Date: Saturday 8 June 2024 (all day)
Location: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientists will be bringing both our expertise and our cool equipment to the National Maritime Museum Greenwich Park this June, giving explorers of all ages a taste of what it’s like to be a polar scientist. Find out if you’ve got what it takes to carry out vital climate research in some of the toughest conditions in the world.
Join us at the Maritime Museum in Greenwich – meet the experts and try out our gear for size.
This family friendly celebration of our world’s oceans will feature live performances, music, creative workshops and science demonstrations on an epic trail across Greenwich park. Head to the Greenwich Park Bandstand to visit the BAS pop-up polar camp and get the lowdown on everything from engineering and science to wildlife and working in Antarctica:

Meet the scientists and find out everything you want to know about our changing Southern Ocean.
Bed down in an Antarctic field camp, discovering how our polar scientists survive living for months on the ice.
Try on our kit for size and fill the boots of a polar researcher.

Our state of the art gliders let us dive into the icy depths of the Southern Ocean. (Photo Credit: David White)
World Oceans Day activities are mainly free to attend, including the trail. Find out more about World Oceans Day on June 8 2024 in Greenwich.

British Antarctic Survey at Lyme Regis Fossil Festival 2024
2024-06-07 - 2024-06-09 | Lyme Regis Fossil Festival, The Pavilion on Marine Parade, Seafront, Lyme Regis, DT7 3JF
Join British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientists at this year’s world-famous Lyme Regis Fossil Festival, taking place from Friday 7 June to Sunday 9 June. Come and marvel at remarkable fossils from Antarctica, offering insights into the continent’s past as a tropical rainforest teeming with dinosaurs.
Visit the BAS team stationed on the seafront and discover if you have what it takes to conduct scientific research in one of the world’s most extreme environments. Get an up-close look at our exceptional collection of ancient fossils and the creatures inhabiting modern-day polar seas. Experience life in an Antarctic field camp, donning polar gear and perusing the menu. Meet our team of friendly scientists and ask them your most challenging questions!
Come and chat to BAS scientists at the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival this summer
The festival features an array of captivating exhibits, expert presentations, thrilling shows, guided nature walks, and family-friendly entertainment, all celebrating the rich geological heritage of the Jurassic Coast.
Searching for fossil evidence of how life on the Antarctic sea floor evolved over the last 100 million years. Credit: Sam Hunt
BAS scientists will also be offering two expert talks in the Hub across the weekend:

Saturday 8 June 13:00 – 14:00: Dr Rowan Whittle and Dr Huw Griffiths:
Seafloor life in Antarctica
Sunday 9 June 13:20 – 14.20: Dr Mark Evans:
Early Jurassic plesiosaur diversity: more than meets the eye

Find out more at www.fossilfestival.com.
Listen to our latest Iceworld podcast, Fossil hunting and managing Antarctic mud

Journey to the Antarctic: a virtual visit to Rothera Research Station
2024-05-03 13:45 - 14:30 | Cambridgeshire
Join us for the next Ice Cool Cyber-School Live Lesson
Our live lesson will take us from our Headquarters in Cambridge on a virtual visit to Rothera Research Station in Antarctica, where children will have the opportunity to find out about the unique environment there, how it is changing and why it is important that we study this biome. We will also learn about the facilities at the research station and the challenges that are faced in trying to modernise it without impacting upon this special environment. See below for the registration and joining link for the live lesson.

Who is this for?
Aimed at KS2, children have the opportunity to find out about the facilities at Rothera research station and the challenges faced in trying to modernise it without impacting upon this special environment. They can ask questions to a scientist, pilot and engineers on station.
What themes are covered?

Climate change
Sustainability
Engineering and construction
Scientific research
Geography and the polar regions
Living things
Aspirations and careers

Explore and learn
This allows students to explore and learn more about our largest research station in Antarctica and the challenges in modernising it!
How to register and join the live lesson: https://stemlive.co.uk/lessons/journey-to-the-antarctic/
Social media
Don’t forget to share your photos with us on social media using the hashtag #STEMLive and remember to tag @STEMLiveLessons @BAS_News so we can share them!

Workshop: Giant Piston Coring capability on RRS Sir David Attenborough
2024-03-27 10:00 - 16:00 | British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB3 0ET, United Kingdom
Are you interested in getting an up to 40 m long marine sediment core for either high-resolution Holocene or Late Quaternary reconstructions? For example, for high resolution Holocene or Late Quaternary reconstructions or any other science question. If so, please read on!
We are pleased to invite you to a community workshop (hybrid format) to develop and discuss plans for future use of the Giant Piston Corer (GPC) from the new NERC research vessel, the RRS Sir David Attenborough. Note: The ship’s geographical working areas are not only limited to the polar regions, so this call is not just for polar scientists.
The basic details for the workshop are given below, and the workshop programme can be found through the registration link below. If you are interested in attending, please register by 15th of March 2024. Please also note that in-person places are limited to 40 and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

What: UK Science Community Workshop for Giant Piston Coring capability on RRS Sir David Attenborough
When: 27th of March 2024; 10.15 – 16.00 hr
Format: Hybrid – online and in person
Where: British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
Cost: FREE! There are no travel funds available but lunch and refreshments will be provided

Please register via using this link – Note that registration closes on 15th of March 2024
If you have any questions, please get in touch with us. And please feel free to forward this announcement to colleagues in your research group/department who may be interested in attending the workshop. We look forward to seeing you in March!
Claus-Dieter Hillenbrand (hilc@bas.ac.uk) & Kelly Hogan (kelgan@bas.ac.uk)

Cambridge Festival: Expedition Ice
2024-03-16 10:00 - 16:00 | British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB3 0ET, United Kingdom
Journey into the future of polar research and operations! As part of 2024’s Cambridge Festival, we’re inviting you to step inside British Antarctic Survey as we open our office doors in Cambridge on 16 March 2024. Come and discover the fascinating polar research, technology, engineering and operations that will guide our next 10 years of scientific research in the polar regions.
Tickets are now available to book here
Why is Antarctic ice the key to understanding climate change? What do researchers in Antarctica do? How are they conducting their research and what are they trying to find out? Discover the answers and get a taste of what life and work is like in the extreme conditions of Antarctica and why research there is so vital.
Meet polar scientists and engineers, pose the difficult questions and sample life as a polar researcher! Whether you’re interested in scientific research, cutting-edge technology, the impact on climate change, our research stations, vehicles and equipment, the remarkable RSS Sir David Attenborough or our operations in extreme conditions… this ice-cool experience is open to everyone.

Hear stories from those who have experienced life and work in the freezing winds and icy wilderness of Antarctica.
Bed down in a polar researcher’s field tent, try on the essential kit necessary to endure such intrepid conditions.
Literally, step into the boots of a polar explorer and discover the methods they use to study the ice, rocks, ocean and animals.
Don’t miss the chance to capture a photo with the penguins aboard our snowmobile!
Join us and learn that what happens in Antarctica doesn’t stay in Antarctica.

Entrance to our open day is by pre-booked ticket with a limited number of walk-ins available on the day.
Book your tickets here.
Open between 10am and 4pm. This is a FREE event.
If you are travelling by car please park at the Madingley Park and Ride.
Step-free access available.

British Antarctic Survey at the National Museum of the Royal Navy
2024-02-13 11:00 - 15:00 | national museum of the royal navy Portsmouth, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, HM Naval Base (PP66), HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, PO1 3NH, United Kingdom
Find out what it takes to carry out vital climate research in some of the toughest conditions in the world. British Antarctic Survey scientists will be bringing both our expertise and our equipment to the National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth this February, giving explorers of all ages a taste of what it’s like to be a polar scientist.

Bed down in our field camp complete with pyramid tent, sheepskin rug, sleeping bag, and primus stove…and take a look at what’s on the menu.
Meet our friendly team of experts and ask them challenging questions.
Find out about Antarctic wildlife, geography, science, operations and engineering on a day of ice-cool polar adventure!
Learn all about the capabilities of the polar research ship the RRS Sir David Attenborough

Step into the boots of a polar researcher at the National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth
This event is taking place on Tuesday 13 February, visit us any time between 11am to 3pm. The event is included with a valid ticket to the National Museum of the Royal Navy Portsmouth.
Book your tickets to the National Museum of the Royal Navy on February 13th in Portsmouth.

Protecting our planet day 2023
2023-11-30 09:00 - 16:30 | Cambridgeshire
Join us for Protecting Our Planet Day (POP23), an engaging live-streamed event tailored for schools. The full-day program features live link-up sessions with inspiring experts dedicated to addressing climate change and is brought to you by STEM Learning in collaboration with the European Space Agency and the UK Space Agency.

British Antarctic Survey are thrilled to be taking part in the ‘Protecting Our Ice’ session, scheduled from 9:45 to 10:25 am. This captivating live link-up for secondary school children, will connect you with our scientists aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough and stationed at the Rothera Research station in Antarctica. Discover the state-of-the-art facilities on the research vessel, enabling scientists to explore the oceans, seafloor, ice, and atmosphere. Gain insights into the daily lives and work of researchers at Rothera and understand the vital role polar regions play in advancing our knowledge of the oceans, marine life, and the climate system.
Our scientists on board the RRS Sir David Attenborough in Antarctica will also be taking part in a live link-up for primary schools. The ‘Protecting our ice and ocean’ session will take place from 11.15-12.00.
For more details and to register for these sessions, visit the POP23 website. Choose to sign up for the entire day or simply drop in for the sessions with your class or the whole school!

British Antarctic Survey at Big Biology Day, Cambridge
2023-10-14 10:00 - 16:00 | Hills Road Sixth Form, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 8PE, United Kingdom
On Saturday 14th October British Antarctic Survey are delighted to be exhibiting at the 10th Big Biology Day held at Hills Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge.
Hosted by Cambridge Biologists, Big Biology Day has evolved into one the largest free-to-attend festivals in the UK exclusively dedicated to the biological sciences.

This is a chance to get an up-close and personal experience with biology and to meet and interact with scientists.
Come along and talk to our experts as they share insights about life and research in Antarctica, shedding light on how animals and plants survive in extreme conditions and the challenges that lie ahead in the future.
Have you ever wondered what it might be like to embark on a career as a polar researcher or to work in Antarctica? This is your opportunity to talk to our team about careers in science, polar operations and polar exploration.
Please be aware that parking is unavailable at the college, but you don’t need to buy a ticket or pre-book this event—simply show up and enjoy the day!
To find out more visit Big Biology Day

UK Arctic Science Conference 2023
2023-09-11 12:00 - 2023-09-13 13:00 | Aurora Cambridge, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 OET
We are pleased to announce that the next UK Arctic Science Conference will be hosted by the British Antarctic Survey with support from the NERC Arctic Office in Cambridge, 11 – 13 September 2023.
Please visit our conference microsite for the most up-to-date information
The online registration for the conference is open until September 6th!

Register for the conference

The conference venue, online participation & accessibility:
The in-person event will be hosted at the BAS Aurora Innovation Centre in Cambridge. Here is some information on best ways to travel to BAS as well as a link to accommodation options in Cambridge. The conference will be hosted in a simple hybrid format over Zoom, and we will be looking for best practice to maximise online participation. You can get familiar with the venue and its accessibility on our website. Below are a few ways we can support individuals with different needs:

Our venue has step-free access
We can provide human assistance for guiding anyone with sight impairment
Our conference room has an audio induction loop
We will enable live captioning for all presentations
We will provide guidance to all presenters about making their presentations accessible to different needs.
We aim to build the programme with sufficient comfort breaks, and there is access to a separate wellbeing room.

If you have accessibility needs that could affect our planning, you will be able to let us know through the registration form or if you prefer you can get in touch with us at arctic@bas.ac.uk.
Accommodation in Cambridge
You might want to check out the Cambridge University colleges for rooms via the link below. Fitzwilliam, Churchill and Robinson College in particularly are closer to BAS. We recommend to book accommodation as soon as possible due to limited availability. Check out college accommodation options via this link.
We look forward to welcoming you here in Cambridge!

British Antarctic Survey at Bluedot Festival 2023
2023-07-20 - 2023-07-23 | Jodrell Bank, Jodrell Bank Observatory, Bomish Lane, Cheshire, SK11 9DW, United Kingdom
British Antarctic Survey is delighted to be exhibiting at this year’s Bluedot Festival from 20-23 July 2023.
Join us at Bluedot Festival – an award winning line up of music, science and cosmic culture set in the shadow of the Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire.

Polar science and engineering comes to life in the Mission Control marquee where you will discover some of the incredible scientific research equipment used by our polar researchers in Antarctica:

Explore the model of our new polar ship, the RRS Sir David Attenborough
Discover underwater robots like our Slocum glider, used by oceanographers to collect data about the dynamics and chemistry from the ocean and under the edge of the ice.
Get a feel for life as a polar researcher by bedding down in our field camp complete with pyramid tent, sheepskin rug, sleeping bag and primus stove…and take a look at what’s on their menu.
Meet our friendly team of experts including our station lead, glaciologists, oceanographers, biologists, engineers and many more.
Find out about the Southern Ocean food chain and how we are reducing the carbon footprint of our stations.
On Saturday 22nd July take a seat and enjoy our line up of informative talks:

11:00am: Antarctica’s Meltdown, what it means for the world’s oceans. Dr Kelly Hogan, Marine Geophysicist, British Antarctic Survey.
2:00pm: Wintering in Antarctica – Living and Working in Splendid Isolation. Mike Brian, Research Station Leader, British Antarctic Survey.
Take a seat and learn more about life and work in the coldest place on Earth.

Discover more about Bluedot Festival and book your tickets

World Oceans Day at the National Maritime Museum
2023-06-10 | National Maritime Museum, Park Row, Greenwich, London, SE10 9NF, United Kingdom
Meet a Polar Scientist
Date: 10th June 2023 (all day)
Location: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
Find out what it takes to carry out vital climate research in some of the toughest conditions in the world. British Antarctic Survey scientists will be bringing both our expertise and our equipment to the National Maritime Museum this June, giving explorers of all ages a taste of what it’s like to be a polar scientist.
Join us at the Maritime Museum in Greenwich – meet the experts and try out our gear for size.
This family friendly celebration of our world’s oceans will feature live performances, expert talks and science demonstrations:

Meet the scientists and find out everything you want to know about our changing Southern Ocean.
Get up close and personal to our underwater robots and find out how they uncover the ocean’s secrets.
Bed down in an Antarctic field camp, discovering how our polar scientists survive months on the ice.
Try on our kit for size and fill the boots of a polar researcher.
Talk to krill experts about these little known creatures that play a massive role in our global oceans.

Our state of the art gliders let us dive into the icy depths of the Southern Ocean. (Photo Credit: David White)
Book your free tickets to the National Maritime Museum World Oceans Day on June 10th 2023 in Greenwich.

Live Lesson for schools: Life on the Ice
2023-03-17 01:30 - 14:15 | Online
Join our experts for an interactive live lesson about research in the polar biome!

‘Life on the Ice’ follows the journey of a polar scientist, from the specialist clothes they wear, the vehicles they use to travel around, and what it’s like to live and work in the Antarctic. The live event took place from 1:30pm – 2:15pm (including 10 minutes for Q&A) and is for Upper KS2 / Lower KS3 (Y5,6 & 7).
Watch again on our YouTube Channel
The lesson will support the curriculum and explain how sustainable technologies and renewable energy plays a part in ensuring scientific research can be carried out on the continent for many years to come.
The experts will also join us live in the studio at the end of the lesson to answer your students’ questions!

How to register: visit the sign-up form for schools for this FREE UKS2 and LKS3 live lesson and here’s more information including the lesson guide.
Time: 1:30PM – 2:15PM (Inc. 10 minutes for Q&A)

Polar Fest at The Deep, Hull
2022-12-01 - 2023-01-31 | The Deep, Hull, Tower Street, Hull, HU1 4DP
We’re delighted to be partnering with The Deep and the Scott Polar Research Institute to bring you ‘Polar Fest’ – the perfect family friendly event this winter!
This event is a celebration of science and adventure among the most extreme elements in the world – the Polar Regions!
Explore the world of polar science including research into topics like the effects of climate change on the Antarctic, plastic in Antarctic oceans, Antarctic food webs, Alien invaders and the history of Antarctic exploration. Find out how researchers live and work in such challenging climates and why the work they are doing is so important, for the planet and all who live on it.
Adelie Penguin at Rothera Research Station. Credit Billy Thursfield
Make sure you pick up a trail sheet from reception, follow the clues to answer the questions to be in with a chance of winning some polar goodies! Visitors will be able to get hands on and learn real research methods applied by polar scientists and the science of snowflakes.
Ever wanted to see real stomach content from an Albatross? Or find out how tall you are compared to different species of penguins including an extinct species which was 1.75m tall?
Continue your journey with a stop by the researcher’s field camp and find out what life is like for a researcher in the frozen Antarctic. Learn about the specialist equipment they take with them from sleeping bags and cooking equipment to different types of clothing to ensure they can survive in one of the most hostile and environments on the planet.
A pyramid tent in Antarctica
You can also find out more about the vast array of careers available through the British Antarctic Survey and the diversity of skills required to operate research stations in the Antarctic, from researchers and scientists to plumbers, chefs, cleaners and electricians.
Tickets start at £14.

BAS @ Protecting Our Planet Day 2022
2022-11-10 | Cambridgeshire
British Antarctic Survey is delighted to be working with STEM Learning for Protecting Our Planet Day 2022.
PROTECTING OUR PLANET DAY (POP22)
Thursday 10 November 2022.
Protecting Our Planet is an inspiring, live-streamed event for primary and secondary schools. The event will feature live link-ups and talks full of inspiration and exciting classroom activities from innovators and experts working to tackle climate change challenges.
Highlights include:

A unique opportunity to say hello to Captain Will Whatley live from RRS Sir David Attenborough, one of the most advanced polar research vessels in the world, providing scientists with a floating laboratory to research the oceans, seafloor, ice and atmosphere. You can come aboard this amazing ship with this virtual tour and discover how its science missions will help us live with and adapt to climate change.
Join a live session with researchers at Rothera Research Station on the Antarctic Peninsula. Find out what its like to live and work on an Antarctic research station, what research the scientists are doing right now, and what life is like on the Antarctic continent during the harsh winter months.

PROTECTING OUR ICE 09:30 to 10:10 GMT
Book this session
Meet two British Antarctic Survey scientists, Nadia Frontier and Jo Cole, who are living and working in Antarctica right now! Nadia is a marine biologist, whose research is helping us to learn more about ocean-living species in Antarctica, and how they are being affected by climate change. Jo is a meteorologist and gathers information about the atmosphere and climate in Antarctica, to learn more about the effects of climate change.

RRS Sir David Attenborough at the wharf at Rothera Research Station. Credit: William Clark

A year-round diving programme at Rothera Research Station enhances marine biodiversity studies. Credit: Joe Marlow
PROTECTING OUR PLANET THROUGH ENGINEERING
13:45 – 14:.20 GMT
Book this session
Be inspired by engineer Rad Sharma in this career session, and learn about her career path from school to working for British Antarctic Survey on innovative projects protecting our planet.
Rad is a Mechanical Engineer at British Antarctic Survey (BAS). As part of the Antarctic Marine Engineering team, she works with scientists to understand their requirements, and then designs, assembles, tests and deploys equipment as needed. Since science at BAS consists of new ideas and extreme environments, her team helps to fill the gap between what the scientists want to survey and achieving that! BAS engineers can be deployed to the ship, stations and field sites.
CLIMATE HEROES AND CAREERS
These sessions will demonstrate how you too can follow a career path where you can tackle climate change and work on cutting-edge research and environmental projects protecting our planet
Britain has been a world leader in polar exploration and research for over a century and RRS Sir David Attenborough will keep Britain at the forefront of world-leading research in Antarctica and the Arctic. Today, studying these remote regions is crucial in helping us understand changes in our planet’s oceans, marine life and climate system. The Polar Regions may be at the ends of the Earth but what happens there affects us all.
Commissioned by UK Research and Innovation, and operated by British Antarctic Survey (BAS), RRS Sir David Attenborough will be available year-round to the UK research community
Check out the sessions page and find out more about the full programme for the day.

British Antarctic Survey at Big Biology Day
2022-10-15 10:00 - 16:00 | Hills Road Sixth Form, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 8PE, United Kingdom
Big Biology Day is all about hands-on biology science fun for all ages!
Saturday 15th October, 10 – 4pm, Hill Road Sixth Form College Cambridge, CB2 8PE
Come along and meet biology experts at this free, fun-packed educational day of biology! This event is a fantastic opportunity to get hands-on with science activities, meet real scientists, including researchers from British Antarctic Survey, and learn more about different careers in biology.
Have you been inspired by Frozen Planet 2? Chat to our scientists and find out how animals and plants survive on the frozen continent and in the icy Southern Ocean, discover how life has evolved over millions of years and what threats and changes might exist in the future. You can also learn more about how humans are affecting the icy polar caps, such as through plastic pollution and climate change, and how this affects the wildlife living there. Interested in working at the icy ends of the Earth? We can talk to you about the different jobs you can do, from researcher to plumber to chef, and give advice to budding polar explorers!
Benthic sledge used for sampling animals on sea bed, seen on the aft deck on RRS James Clark Ross
More information on the event can be found on the Hill’s Road Facebook page.
No parking is available on Hills Road site.

UK Sea Ice Group Meeting 2022
2022-09-26 12:00 - 2022-09-27 13:30 | British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB3 0ET, United Kingdom
The 2022 UK Sea Ice Group Meeting, supported by the Challenger Society, will take place on the afternoon of Monday 26th September and the morning of Tuesday 27th September as an in-person event at the British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge. Presentations will be streamed online for those unable to participate in person. There is no registration fee for the meeting but, if you intend to participate, please fill in and submit the online registration form by Friday 2nd September at the latest. The meeting will open with lunch on Monday and will conclude with lunch on Tuesday.
The meeting will include both oral and poster presentations. We particularly encourage presentations from PhD students and other early-career researchers. A full programme and further information about the meeting will be posted on this web site in early September.
Travel and accommodation
Information on how to get to the British Antarctic Survey may be found here. Please note that on-site parking at BAS is very limited and, if you are travelling by car, we encourage you to make use of the free parking at the nearby Madingley Road park & ride site. If you require a disabled parking space please contact Michaela Boak at BAS.
Participants who require accommodation should make their own arrangements. In addition to the usual booking sites, Visit Cambridge provides general information on visiting Cambridge as well as listing accommodation.
Schedule of the meeting
Please find the program of the meeting below.

British Antarctic Survey at Bluedot Festival
2022-07-21 08:00 - 2022-07-24 19:00 | Jodrell Bank, Jodrell Bank Observatory, Bomish Lane, Cheshire, SK11 9DW, United Kingdom
British Antarctic Survey is delighted to be exhibiting at this year’s Bluedot Festival from 21-24 July 2022.
Bluedot is four days of music, science and cosmic culture set in the shadow of the Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire.

Polar science and engineering comes to life in the Mission Control marquee. You’ll get a chance to see a model of our new polar ship RRS Sir David Attenborough alongside an underwater Slocum glider, which is used by oceanographers to collect data from the ocean and under the edge of glaciers. For the first time, BAS is bringing an ancient ice core collected from Antarctica. This will allow visitors to see and listen to ancient air from thousands of years ago escaping from the ice. These cores provide the gold standard for scientists to understand past climate change.
A Slocum glider will be on display for visitors to see. Photo credit: Ryan Scott.
Visitors can also learn what Antarctica looks like if you lift off the ice, and you can pretend to sleep under canvas in our field camp complete with pyramid tent, sheepskin rug, sleeping bag and primus stove with some of the food researchers in the ‘deep field’ eat when on fieldwork. We’ll also be talking about the Southern Ocean food chain, explaining how we’re reducing our stations carbon footprint and presenting innovative projects such as our Climate Code shirt, made in collaboration with DressCode Shirts. You’ll meet a pilot, glaciologist, oceanographer, biologist, engineer and many more from our friendly and approachable team!
Marine biologist Dr Huw Griffiths will give an online talk and there’ll even be a live link up to the all-women wintering team at Bird Island Research Station and our ship on the RRS Sir David Attenborough. Details to follow.
Visitors will be able to see what the land beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheets looks like.
For the first time festival-goers will be able to see an ice core, extracted from Antarctica, containing ancient air from thousands of years ago.
You can find out more about the Bluedot Festival here

Create your own environmental shirt design at the Blue Dot Festival!
2022-07-21 - 2022-07-27 | Blue Dot Festival, Cheshire, SK11 9DW, United Kingdom
DressCode Shirts and the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) will be at the Blue Dot Festival, 21st – 24th July 2022. The Climate Code shirt is the result of a collaborative design process between Cambridge-based DressCode Shirts and BAS. In 2021 we started designing a shirt that would bring to life the huge amounts of Climate data that our researchers work with.
At this years Blue Dot festival we want to bring the design challenge to YOU! Visit the BAS stand, get inspired by the science and design your own shirt!
BAS Director of Innovation and Impact Beatrix Schlarb-Ridley wearing the first sample of the Climate Code shirt
Competition: Enter our competition and win a Climate Code shirt!
You have a chance to win a limited edition ‘Climate Code Shirt’ that was created in partnership by DressCode Shirts x the British Antarctic Survey.
Think about these questions:
What have you learnt about at the BAS expo at the Blue Dot festival?
What inspiration can you take from the natural world around you?
What would your environmental shirt look like?

Next, go wild and try your hand at designing your own shirt- you can use pen, paper, drawing apps… get creative!
How to enter:

Upload a photo of your creation onto Instagram or Twitter
Tag both @dresscodeshirts and @britishantarcticsurvey
Use the hashtag #ClimateDesign
Closing date 27th July 2022: We will aim to inform the winner within 10 days of the closing date.
One lucky winner will be chosen and sent a cool Climate Code Shirt!

Welcome to our Blue Dot design team and good luck!
Watch the below YouTube video with our director of Innovation & Impact explaining the science behind the design

Ice Worlds Open Day at British Antarctic Survey
2022-04-02 10:00 - 16:00 | British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB3 0ET, United Kingdom
10:00am – 4:00pm, Saturday 2 April | British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Rd, CB3 0ET
Book your tickets on Eventbrite.
Introducing ‘Ice Worlds’, a rare and dazzling showcase of environmental science, engineering and technology at the British Antarctic Survey’s offices in Cambridge.
British Antarctic Survey is delighted to be opening its doors for the Cambridge Festival 2022. There is something for all the family to enjoy!
Why are the Polar Regions so important to study? And what makes them so unique? Use this rare opportunity to find out what BAS scientists are investigating in the Polar Regions.
To give you a taste of what it’s like to live and work on the frozen continents, meet polar scientists and engineers who live there, discover the methods they use to study the ice, rocks, ocean and animals, and how these icy landscapes are being affected by climate change. See some of the amazing biodiversity that inhabits the freezing seas and experience what it’s like to live and work under canvas in a tent or on our new polar research ship RRS Sir David Attenborough. Expect cool kit, lots of samples, Antarctic clothing, films, historical archives and lots more.
Visitors will hear what it’s like to live and work in Antarctica
Visitors will have the chance to see a model of the new polar ship RRS Sir David Attenborough and robotic gliders used to collect data from the Southern Ocean
Tickets provide 90 minutes in Ice Worlds. There is limited capacity at BAS Cambridge, so booking is strongly advised. Some walk-ins may be available on the day.
Covid-19
To protect our staff, some of whom have lowered immunity after being in Antarctica, we ask that you do not enter the building if you, or anyone in your household, have Covid-19 or are showing symptoms.
We ask all those visiting BAS Cambridge to take frequent LFD tests where possible.
Face coverings are strongly encouraged to be worn inside the building unless an individual is medically exempt.
Accessibility
Ice Worlds at British Antarctic Survey is accessible for those with reduced mobility – we have step-free access and a lift. Limited parking for blue badge holders is available on site and assistance dogs are welcome. Please be aware that corridors and display areas can get very busy especially at peak times. If you require further advice or assistance to accommodate a disability please contact gerhou@bas.ac.uk.
Photographs
Photographs will be taken throughout the day at the event, and may be put on social media and our website. If you or your child do not wish to be photographed, please inform a steward or member of staff upon arrival to the event.

Deception Island

10:00am-3:00pm daily from Thursday 31 March until Sunday 10 April | McDonald Lawn, Downing Street, CB2 3ER

Book Deception Island tickets here.

Prepare to embark on an immersive expedition like nothing you have been on before.
Step inside an exact replica of an Antarctic hut and be transported to Deception Island, a tiny caldera in the Antarctic Ocean, battered by the fiercest seas in the world and shaken by volcanic activity. This project has been created in partnership with BAS Archives.
Here the rusting remains of industrial whaling and a seabed littered with whale bones testify to mankind’s greed and brutality. But the island is also an outpost of scientific exploration, a witness to human attentiveness and fortitude.
This is an immersive poetry film that will delight and enthral.

Take a look at the full Cambridge Festival event programme here.

Accessibility statement
If you experience any accessibility issues for the British Antarctic Survey Cambridge Festival Event, please contact information@bas.ac.uk.
Further information: https://www.bas.ac.uk/accessibility/
The following accessibility information applies to www.bas.ac.uk.
This website is run by British Antarctic Survey. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:

zoom in up to 300% without the text spilling off the screen
navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

Engagement seminar: Digital twinning for marine science fieldwork
2022-03-07 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
Engagement seminar: Digital Twinning: a new perspective for marine science fieldwork
This event is part of the activities of the UK Ocean Digital Twinning project, which aims at investigating digital twinning as a tool for increasing inclusivity in marine science.
This project is led by a subset of the Challenger Society EIDA working group and funded by NERC’s making environmental science equal, diverse, and inclusive programme.
In this BAS-hosted engagement seminar we will discuss digital twinning as a way to complement and enhance traditional marine science fieldwork. A digital twin refers to a digital representation of a system via in situ and remotely sensed observations and/or models, and can include representations of data, processes, and perturbations of the system in question with time. Such techniques can be used to enhance and guide in-situ fieldwork activities, and also allows the useful participation of personnel not deployed to the field. Additionally, digital twins can improve fieldwork planning and staff preparation for fieldwork, just to name a few.
The seminar will be partially interactive, and anonymous polling will be used for perception gathering to inform the next stage of activities of the project.

PLEASE REGISTER FOR THIS SEMINAR BY USING THE BELOW FORM

British Antarctic Survey Decarbonisation Hackathon
2021-12-03 10:00 - 17:00 | Online
British Antarctic Survey Hackathon – Help solve a ‘last mile’ decarbonisation challenge in the race to net zero.
British Antarctic Survey (BAS), Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and Cambridge Zero, will host a hackathon, bringing together a global community of innovators to come up with solutions to help BAS achieve net zero across their operations by 2030 at their Rothera Research Station in Antarctica.
Adelie Penguins on Rothera Point, Adelaide Island, Antarctica
About – Full day virtual hackathon, bringing together innovators from around the world to come up with solutions to help the British Antarctic Survey achieve net zero.
Who should apply? – Innovators willing to think creatively to achieve net zero for the benefit of the global ‘race to zero’, and for the benefit of remote communities and delicate polar environments in particular.
Key dates – 10:00 to 17:00 BST on Friday 3 December.
Teams shortlisted by the judging panel from the first hackathon will be invited to attend the second hackathon, to work up their proposals in more detail before three winners are chosen by judges at the end of the second day.
Full details and registration – https://www.cisl.cam.ac.uk/work-with-us/accelerator-and-sustainability-hub/british-antarctic-survey-hackathon-help-solve-last
