Encouraging the Next Generation of Antarctic Conservators

Woman and young woman standing in front of a historic hut backdrop

Abby Wilson with Trust Collections Conservation Manager, Lizzie Meek, who Abby interviewed as part of her research project. ©AHT/Anna Clare

Since July 2023, the Trust has been working with Young Inspiring Explorers™ alumna Abby Wilson on her school’s ‘Adopt a Scientist’ research project. Abby chose to focus her studies on Antarctica’s heritage conservation and Dr Gabriela Roldan, Trust Education Manager who is also a Social Scientist, responded to the call and mentored Abby for four months.

Abby, aged 14, would like to be an Antarctic Conservator in the future. She became interested in this following her involvement in the 2020 Worsley Weekend that the Trust hosted. The research she conducted focused on the challenges and working conditions for conservators of historic huts in Antarctica, looking specifically at the different strategies, techniques, tools and expertise required to conserve Shackleton’s Nimrod hut and Hillary’s TAE/IGY hut, which were built 50 years apart. Abby presented the results of her work to her school community in November.

Dr Gabriela Roldan said it was a pleasure to work with Abby on this project. “She is a curious person, driven by a passion for Antarctica and for the work our conservators do to preserve this significant heritage. If we nurture the interest and motivation of young people like Abby, we are fostering the next generation of Antarctic heritage conservation leaders,” said Gabriela.