To commemorate the Centenary of William Speirs Bruce who led the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition (1902-1904), Pobjoy Mint have released a new 50p coin for 2021 depicting Bruce’s ship, Scotia. William Speirs Bruce was a British naturalist, polar scientist and oceanographer who organised and led the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition to the South Orkney Islands…
In the year which marks the 180-year anniversary of the arrival of HMS Terror in Antarctica, Pobjoy Mint have released a new 50p coin depicting this tall ship for 2021. HMS Terror was converted into a polar exploration ship in the mid-1830s. Her solid construction made her ideally suited for use in the dangerous sea…
Pobjoy Mint have released a new £1 coin highlighting Climate Change on our behalf. The Antarctic is a crucial part of the Earth’s climate system and a sensitive barometer of environmental change. The UK’s efforts in Antarctic science are led by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and their scientific research strategy is focused on improving…
2020 marks the 200th Anniversary of the discovery of the Antarctic continent, an incredible environment that is full of life both above and below the ocean. The UK has a long and proud history in Antarctica and plays a leading role in protecting and studying the continent. The British Antarctic Territory forms the largest and…
Adaptations of polar seabirds for survival in their extreme environment include dense plumage for insulation and a countercurrent heat exchange system to stop their feet freezing. All species in this stamp issue breed at very high latitudes, and three of them – the snow petrel, Antarctic petrel and south polar skua – are recorded visiting…
The Government of the British Antarctic Territory is delighted to announce 28 new place-names in the Territory. These place-names honour those who have made an exceptional contribution to furthering the understanding, protection and management of Antarctica over the last fifty years, and whose achievements warrant highlighting alongside those of the early explorers. The UK Committee…
As part of a regular series on the meaning of place-names in the Territory, this latest edition focuses on Blaiklock Island. Blaiklock Island in Marguerite Bay (67°32’40”S, 67°01’07”W) was named in 1955 for Kenneth Blaiklock, pioneering surveyor who died at the end of September 2020 aged 92. He was a surveyor at Stonington 1948-50, including…
Today (18 November) the Government of the British Antarctic Territory (BAT) and the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) are celebrating the inaugural Polar Pride Day. This day demonstrates a commitment to support and enhance Diversity in Polar Science. To mark the day, while we cannot celebrate in person this year,…
The UK Government’s Blue Belt Programme is today celebrating 4 years of success: Jane Rumble, Deputy Commissioner for BAT, commented: “Over the last 4 years, the Blue Belt Programme has helped enhance our understanding of the Southern Ocean and its ecosystems, which are already feeling the impacts of climate change. The Blue Belt Programme…
Written by: Stuart Doubleday / All photos credit: Stuart Doubleday This was my second stint working in Polar Regions Department. I came away the first time around, when I worked mostly on the Arctic, really wanting to be Deputy Head and Administrator of the British Antarctic Territory (BAT) one day. I feel very fortunate that I…
