South Georgia Expedition Outreach
The Trust’s ninth Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ honoured the centenary year of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s final expedition (Quest 1921–1922) and gave 22 young New Zealanders the opportunity to explore South Georgia Island in October 2023, connect with the legacy the Trust cares for and embrace their spirit of exploration.
Sharing their expedition with the world, our Inspiring Explorers™ have so far written 19 blogs, undertaken public speaking engagements in their community, recorded podcast interviews, and shared their experience in media articles.
In their blogs, the Inspiring Explorers™ shared vivid glimpses of their awe-inspiring experience. From Charlie Thomas’s emotional encounter with a snow petrel to Lawrence Rothwell’s description of what it took to stand at Shackleton’s final resting place, each blog captures the essence of exploration and how it impacted each team member.
Lawrence says of Shackleton, “More than a century after his death, his legacy continues to inspire explorers worldwide. I remember thinking it quite appropriate that in order to visit the grave of one of the greatest explorers the world has ever seen, you must yourself first cross one of the world’s most treacherous oceans.”
Inspiring Explorer and MetService representative Kelly Davenport’s blog shows how South Georgia’s unpredictable weather created challenges and wonders throughout the expedition’s journey.
Inspiring Explorer Jenny Sahng presents to 300 students at Maungawhau School (NZ). ©AHT
Inspiring Explorer Lawrence Rothwell at Right Whale Bay. ©AHT/Anna Clare
Inspiring Explorer Peregrin Hyde has produced a fascinating programme on the expedition for Radio New Zealand’s ‘Our Changing World’ show. It describes how the Inspiring Explorers™ science outreach team continued the early explorers’ scientific legacy by collecting data and weather observations under the guidance of MetService’s Kelly Davenport and Peter Fisher, which will be important for weather and climate science today. The programme features audio and interviews with Perry’s fellow Inspiring Explorers™ recorded in South Georgia.
Inspiring Explorer Perry Hyde recording glacier calving in Drygalski Fjord, South Georgia. ©AHT/Anna Clare
An Unexpected Journey.
Inspiring Explorer Lily Green’s short film, An Unexpected Journey, takes viewers on a journey to South Georgia, alongside the expedition climbing team, for an attempt at the first New Zealand ascent of Mount Worsley. Her film explores the highs of preparing for the ascent and the disappointment when conditions prevented the climb from going forward. All was not lost however, when an unexpected turn of events led to a unique opportunity!
The team are also working on group outreach projects to be delivered throughout 2024 and 2025. The science team are creating an interactive web article and social media video series, the education team will be bringing the wonders of South Georgia’s history and environment to young learners through a card game, the video team are working on projects to share their experience, the visual arts team are creating works for a collaborative exhibition, and the children’s book team are working on a story and illustrations.
You can also find the podcast on all major podcast platforms by searching for ‘Our Changing World’.
