Immersive Antarctica: Virtual reality tour brings Antarctic exploration to the UK
This April and May, charities New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust (NZAHT) and UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT) joined forces to tour England and Scotland for the first time with two exciting immersive virtual reality (VR) experiences that use cutting-edge digital technologies to transform how the British public can learn about Antarctica’s rich history of science and exploration.
British expeditions played a significant role in shaping the course of Antarctic history from the heroic age through to the more recent scientific age on the continent. Participants will be able to take a unique step back in time by donning a VR headset and controllers, which will instantly transport them to Antarctica. They will have the chance to step inside and explore historic huts, come face to face with penguins, ride in a hydrogen balloon, feed huskies, meet early explorers and scientists and hear incredible tales of resilience, teamwork and innovation on the ice.
UKAHT and NZAHT have a long history of successful partnership, helping each other with cold-climate heritage conservation work in one of the world’s most extreme environments. This joint tour marks an exciting step forward in their collaboration, combining their expertise in digital technologies and storytelling to make the remote cultural heritage sites that they care for more accessible to all.
There are two virtual reality experiences on offer during the tour:
Scott’s Discovery Hut
The NZAHT’s new virtual reality experience of Scott’s Discovery Hut gives the public access to the first expedition base on Antarctica’s Ross Island, built in 1902, making it over 122 years old.
NZAHT worked with New Zealand-based virtual reality tech company StaplesVR to create the experience using a combination of LiDar and photogrammetry data. A significant amount of the funds for the initial conservation of Scott’s explorer bases was raised in the UK. NZAHT is delighted to now be able to share their work to save Scott’s Discovery Hut – including conserving over 500 artefacts inside – with those who supported them.
NZAHT is a not-for-profit organisation which cares for the expedition bases of Antarctica’s legendary early explorers, including Captain Robert Falcon Scott and Sir Ernest Shackleton.
NZAHT Executive Director Francesca Eathorne adds: “We’re excited to bring the hut to people virtually, making it accessible to those who may not have the opportunity to visit these historic sites in person. It gives great insight into the everyday items the explorers had with them and how they used the hut to support the important science and exploration they undertook. “The conservation work our teams undertake is world-leading, and sharing it through VR helps us to educate people around the importance of saving this cultural heritage for future generations.”
Immersive Antarctica: A Frozen Night
The UK Antarctic Heritage Trust’s (UKAHT) A Frozen Night is a 30-minute-long VR experience which transports participants to a fully immersive reconstruction of a historic scientific base where they will step into the shoes of overwintering Antarctic scientists as they navigate this amazing environment.
The UK Antarctic Heritage Trust is a charity that leads the conservation efforts for legendary explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton’s shipwreck Endurance and six British heritage sites in Antarctica, which were once home to pioneering scientists and today mark the birth of the scientific age of Antarctica.
Camilla Nichol, CEO of UKAHT, explains those taking part will be among the first to engage with Antarctic heritage sites in this new and unique way: “A Frozen Night is UKAHT’s first virtual reality experience based on a true story from the archives and narrated by those who lived and worked in our southernmost base, Stonington Island. One of the earliest British sites, established in 1948 and a key dog sledging base, Stonington Island enabled teams to travel far inland into the Antarctic Peninsula. Now, for the first time, A Frozen Night allows people to virtually travel into Stonington’s past to experience the wonders and risks of Antarctic field work.”
The virtual reality (VR) tour
Throughout April and May, the virtual reality tour, generously funded by The Charles Hayward Foundation and donors to NZAHT’s Inspiring Explorers™ Fund, will visit several schools, museums and Antarctic organisations such as the British Antarctic Survey and the Scott Polar Research Institute. A special event was also held at Gilbert White’s House and Gardens in Hampshire, attended by UKAHT Patron HRH The Princess Royal and local school children.
Public sessions were available at The Polar Museum, Cambridge on 23rd April and upcoming public sessions can be booked at the following event:
Discovery Point Museum, Dundee, 8th – 11th May
- A Frozen Night
- Discovery Hut
From 1st May onwards, the UKAHT’s VR experience A Frozen Night will be available for people to download on the Meta app store, allowing users to explore it from their own headsets at home.
In October, UKAHT will also be showcasing its Immersive Antarctica VR experience at the National Science and Media Museum’s Science Festival as part of the Bradford City of Culture Celebrations.
Anyone wishing to help protect and share the wonder of Antarctica and its heritage can support the charities, the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust and New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust by becoming a member or making a donation.
Please visit the websites Antarctic Heritage Trust and UKAHT – Home
