Andrew Atkin
Factors regulating the success of scientific programs on Heroic era expeditions in Antarctica, 1897-1914.
Andrew Atkin, Gateway Antarctica
Supervisors
Bryan Storey, Gateway Antarctica
Scientific success on Antarctic expeditions has always been a product of how well reconciled the research activities were with the broader expedition objectives. Analysis of the factors promoting the success of scientific programs on expeditions from around a century ago is central to this project.
The science program of the British National Antarctic Expedition (Scott's 1901-1904 Discovery expedition) was one element of a coordinated international collaboration (including other vessels and land observatories) to gather data in the physical sciences of meteorology and terrestrial magnetism. The expedition ship Discovery was designed and built specifically as an ice-capable exploring and research vessel. It spent two full years frozen in the sea ice in McMurdo Sound near Ross Island, during which time the scientific and naval staff collected data (notably in the physical sciences of meteorology, terrestrial magnetism and pendulum studies) and specimens (zoological, bacteriological, geological).
Opinion varies regarding the success of the scientific program on the Discovery expedition. The scientific achievements have always been overshadowed by the drama of the events of Scott's Terra Nova expedition, but it is still puzzling why the scientific staff slipped into obscurity after their return . Evaluation of the scientific activities (especially in the physical sciences of meteorology and terrestrial magnetism) during the expedition is the centrepiece of this project.
My research question can be distilled to:
What factors contributed to the outcomes of scientific research on Scott's Discovery expedition and, by comparison to similar Antarctic expeditions of the time, did the expedition maximise it's opportunities for scientific success?
This research project relies on the physical and intellectual products of the scientific program as much as an understanding of the historical contexts in which it was undertaken. Thus science and history are both critical elements of the work at hand.