Ice From Above

Exploring our icy world from the sky and space

The idea of looking at ice from above might seem simple. However, there are many different tools we can use, from satellites to drones, and using different types of sensing equipment means we are not limited to what the human eye can see. Technology is helping us to gather lots of different types of information about our icy world.

The real skill of the observer is in analysing and presenting those findings, whether as an artist or scientist. What do you see when you look at ice from above?

The exhibition includes Zaria Forman's remarkable large-scale artwork, "Lincoln Sea", made after her time on NASA's Operation IceBridge, an airborne science mission. Forman joined flights over Antarctica, Greenland and Arctic Canada, and produced a series of extraordinary pastel drawings. Also on display is a selection of equipment used by scientists at the Scott Polar Research Institute to study the polar regions.

Visit Zaria Forman's website.

Read about our research.

This exhibition is presented in collaboration with Silverstrand Philanthropies, a Singapore-based grantmaker focused on enhancing biodiversity through advocacy, capacity building, and research.

Open until August 2023

A Century of Polar Research

The Big Freeze art festival presents the work of a range of artists who specialise in the polar regions, together with some of the remarkable material in our collections.

It was made to accompany The Big Freeze Art polar art festival which ran from 4-14 March 2021, and featured a range of films, artist interviews and other activities. You can still watch the films and some of the events on our YouTube channel and on Crowdcast.

Visit the Big Freeze exhibition.

A Century of Polar Research

This online exhibition accompanies the exhibition on display in the Polar Museum.

On the side of an Antarctic volcano Frank Debenham realised that British polar explorers needed a headquarters – somewhere to share their findings and learn from each other.

The idea for the Scott Polar Research Institute was born, and in 1920 it was officially founded as part of the University of Cambridge. Find out about the Institute's origin as a memorial to Captain Scott and his men, and the pioneering research carried out at the Institute over the last 100 years.

Visit exhibition highlights online.