2017 Conservation Ambassador Diana McCormack
Diana McCormack, a senior conservator in the Historic Ships team at The National Museum of the Royal Navy, based in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, UK, was chosen from applicants from around the world to be the Antarctic Heritage Trust’s first Conservation Ambassador. The initiative was launched to provide an emerging conservation professional (within five years of graduating) to join the team in Antarctica for part of the season.
Diana, who is from Belfast, Northern Ireland, spent six weeks on the ice with the Trust’s team, conserving artefacts in the huts, including cod liver oil, cocoa and table salt. She also helped to remove and clean mould build-up at Scott’s Hut, Cape Evans. Diana says she was struck by how much work has already gone into the huts and the enormous achievements of everyone involved in the conservation team over the years. It has inspired her to approach conservation challenges in her job with a fresh perspective.
Her day job involves conserving some of the world’s most famous historic ships, including HMS Victory. As part of the Conservation Ambassador’s role, Diana delivered a dedicated outreach programme including writing blogs, giving presentations to schools and working with local Scout groups who were completing their Antarctic Explorer badge.