The South Georgia Association

Summer Event: History and Art of South Georgia
2026-07-10 09:15 - 2026-07-11 16:30 (Europe/London) | British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, United Kingdom
The Association is holding an in-person, two-day event, with the theme of ‘History and Art of South Georgia’. It is being hosted at BAS, Cambridge, and includes the Annual Members’ Meeting and Presidential Dinner. We will have the presidential handover on the 10th from David Tatham to David Drewry.

More details here:

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25th Anniversary of KEP Research Station Opening
2026-03-19 19:30 - 20:00 | Online – the Comfort of Your Own Home
Online (Zoom) Presentation about the KEP Station reopening, and a British Antarctic Survey team moving in to replace the departing MIlitary detachment. Details of how to get tickets will be distributed to Members in due course, and opened to the wider public later.

Click Here for More Details and Tickets

Online Talk - Virtual Viola
2025-11-20 19:30 - 21:30 | Online – the Comfort of Your Own Home
Online Talk on the History of the sealing vessel Dias (Originally named Viola) that now rests at Grytviken. More Details to Follow

SGA July 2025 Summer Event
2025-07-04 08:00 - 2025-07-05 17:00 | British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Get ready for two days of exciting presentations! Whales, seals, science, archives, mapping, climate change, marine protection, and more! We can’t wait to see you there!Venue: British Antarctic SurveyPrice: TBCNumbers will be limited so tickets will be on a first come, first served basis with SGA members given priority booking. Look out for more information in the coming weeks!

SGA Online Talk - 250th Anniversary of Cook's First Landing
2025-01-17 19:00 - 21:00 | Online – the Comfort of Your Own Home
South Georgia Association online event to mark the 250th anniversary of the first landing on South Georgia, by Captain Cook.

Dr Bruce F. Mair

17 January 2025 marks the 250th anniversary of Captain James Cook landing on South Georgia while on his second voyage of exploration (1772-1775) aboard HMS Resolution. Former BAS Geologist Bruce Mair will describe aspects of Cook’s earlier life and arrival at South Georgia and add personal recollections of geological fieldwork on the south coast and inland glaciers of the island coincident with the 200th and 202nd anniversaries.

We will email SGA members with details of the event nearer the time, and then publicise it wider by email, Facebook and on this site.

Endurance Film Showing in Cambridge
2024-10-16 20:00 - 22:00 | Cambridge Arts Picture House, 38–39 St Andrew's Street, Cambridge, CB2 3AR, United Kingdom
Endurance Film Showing at the Cambridge Picture House

In a legendary feat of leadership and perseverance, Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton kept alive his crew of 27 men for over a year despite the loss of their ship in frigid pack ice. Over a century later, a team of modern-day explorers sets out to find the sunken ship. From National Geographic Documentary Films and

directed by Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin and Natalie Hewit, ENDURANCE threads together the inspiring stories of these two landmark expeditions, bound by their shared grit and determination.

We’re delighted to welcome polar geographer and expedition leader Dr. John Shears for an in-person Q&A following this special preview screening at Cambridge Arts Picturehouse. Shears successfully led the Endurance 22 mission, a groundbreaking expedition to discover Sir Ernest Shackleton’s legendary ship.

Endurance Film Premiere
2024-10-12 14:30 - 17:00
Endurance Film Premiere at the Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank, London

SGA AGM and Talks
2024-07-20 00:00 - 23:59 | SPRI Lecture Theatre, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1ER, United Kingdom
We will hold a joint all-day event with the Friends of SPRI, incorporating the AGM, and Dinner at Jesus College. More details to follow soon. Meanwhile, save the date. And maybe Friday too. Details for requesting tickets will be sent to SGA members soon, and advertised here a little later.

SGA Annual General Meeting

We will start with a long-overdue, but brief, South Georgia Association Annual General Meeting.

Speakers for the day include:

Julian Dowdeswell: Ice and environmental change.

Eva Marie Widmark: Captain CA Larsen (1860-1924), a Pioneer from the Heroic Age.

Andy Beharrell: Sailing a 100 year old herring drifter below 50 degrees south – demanding and enchanting in equal measure.

John Dudeney, Paul Rodhouse and Mark Belchier: 120 years of management and mismanagement of Antarctic marine living resources.

David Drewry: The Land beneath the ice.

Refreshments are included throughout the day with sandwiches at lunch with wine.

SGA Morag Husband Campbell Medal Presentations

The SGA will present recent MHC medals before the evening dinner.

Evening Dinner at Jesus College

The evening will start at 7.00pm with pre-dinner drinks in the gardens (weather permitting) and dinner in the Upper Hall. Prosecco, wine and soft drinks included.

Price (To Be Confirmed): Ticket price for the day / evening is expected to be about £120 per person to include all food and drink as specified.

Accommodation:

Accommodation is available at Jesus College at a special discounted rate. To book a room please call the West Court Reception team at Jesus College on their direct number 01223 760571 and the code to quote to reception is: SPRI2024.

Room TypePer Room, Per NightApartment En-suite (1-AES)£201.75Double En-suite (2-DES)£152.25Single En-suite (3-SES)£143.25Double Standard (4-DS)£115.50Single Standard (5-SS)£108.00

Save the date in your diary! Spaces are limited so please register your interest as soon as the booking links are sent out in April. Places will be reserved on a first come, first served basis.

SGHT: The Return of the Quest Crow's Nest
2023-09-07 17:30 - 19:00 | All Hallows by the Tower, All Hallows by the Tower London, EC3R 5BJ, London, EC3R 5BJ, United Kingdom
Please join the South Georgia Heritage Trust (SGHT) for an event at All Hallows by the Tower in London (the oldest church in the City of London AD675) to mark the safe return of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Quest crow’s nest. After tens of thousands of miles travelled, and featuring in exhibitions in Athy, Ireland and Grytviken, South Georgia, the crow’s nest returns to its home in the crypt of All Hallows by the Tower Church.

The event will begin with a drinks reception and optional tours of the church. There will then be a series of speakers connecting the histories of Shackleton, South Georgia island, All Hallows by the Tower and the City of London. An insight into current South Georgia projects to preserve the island’s rich polar heritage and protect its unique wildlife and marine environment will also be shared. The event will conclude with a short liturgy and music from the Square Mile Choral Scholars

SGHT/UKAHT: The Orcas Tale Webinar
2023-07-07 19:00 - 20:30
The South Georgia Heritage Trust (SGHT) and UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT) invite you to join them on Friday 7 July for their webinar Southern Ocean Stories: The Orca’s Tale.

Discover the life of Orcas living in the Southern Ocean. Two whale researchers will describe their work with Orca in South Georgia and Antarctic waters. We will find out how studying the movements, behaviour, abundance and ecology of Killer Whale populations using direct observations and remote sensing technology can tell the story of our changing environment. Their tales about their experiences working in Antarctic waters will be illustrated with their amazing photographs.

SGHT/UKAHT: Online Charity Auction
2023-07-07 08:00 - 2023-07-19 23:30
The South Georgia Heritage Trust (SGHT) and UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT) are working together to bring you a fabulous Online Charity Auction to raise funds towards their conservation programmes in South Georgia and Antarctica. They will have a wonderful selection of unique experiences and exclusive lots on offer, from very special adventurous cruises to artworks by recognised artists, signed books, true antiques and collectables.

Save the date now, and more information will be available from the organisors once the auction starts on Friday 7 July. The auction will be live until Friday 19 July and you will be able to place your bids at any time between those dates.

SGA Spring Meeting and AGM
2023-04-28 18:00 - 22:30 | Royal Overseas League, Over-Seas House, Park Pl, London, SW1A 1NN, United Kingdom
The South Georgia Association are pleased to announce a live, in-person, Spring Meeting and Annual General Meeting at the Royal Over-Seas League in London on 28 April. Members are welcome to bring guests. Non-members may attend, but not vote in AGM proceedings. Tickets for the evening, including the reception, cost £30.00 per person. More Details Here:

More Details

The Discovery of Shackleton's Lost Ship 'Endurance'
2023-03-04 14:30 - 17:00
A talk at The BMS University of Cambridge Chemistry Lecture Theatre in Cambridge on the discovery of the wreck of Shackleton’s ‘Endurance’ under the Weddell Sea. Introduced by Donald Lamont, Chairman of the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust, which organised and funded the Endurance22 expedition, there will be presentations from the leaders of the expedition, and the film maker who recorded the drama of the search and discovery.

More Details and Event Registration

CANCELLED: SGA Spring Meeting 2022
2022-05-06 16:30 - 23:59
The South Georgia Association regrets that we have had to cancel the proposed Spring Meeting on HQS Wellington in London on 6 May 2022. More HERE.

SGA Online Talk - South Georgia Then and Now (1982-2022)
2022-04-22 19:30 - 21:00 | Online – the Comfort of Your Own Home
South Georgia Association online event to mark the 40th anniversary of the end of the Argentine occupation of South Georgia in 1982

Recollections of life at King Edward Point by people who were there at the time of the invasion in 1982, when the military garrison was replaced by the applied fisheries research laboratory in 2001, and during the latest summer season 2021 to 2022. Bob Headland, Pat Lurcock and Jamie Coleman share their memories of past and recollections of recent events illustrated by contemporary photographs.

We will email SGA members with details of the event nearer the time, and then publicise it wider by email, Facebook and on this site.

More Details and Registration HERE

Deadline for Morag Husband Campbell Medal Nominations
2022-02-28 00:00 - 23:59

SGA Online Talk - Whaling from South Georgia
2022-02-24 19:30 - 21:30 | Online – the Comfort of Your Own Home
We are hosting another online talk on Thursday 24 February 2022.

Whaling from South Georgia

Presented by John Alexander and hosted by Dr Martin Collins

A talk by a man who was there, illustrated with his own photographs. John Alexander was an electrician with Christian Salvesen arriving at Leith Harbour in September 1954 and overwintering. He returned in September 1956 and overwintered again. He then spent the 1958-1959 season on Southern Harvester and the 1959-1960 season on Southern Venturer. His last season was back in Leith Harbour, arriving in September 1960 as an Asdic electrician. Much later he returned to South Georgia in 2009 on Skip Novak’s Pelagic Australis.

More Details and Event Registration

Shackleton Exhibition at the RGS
2022-02-07 08:00 - 2022-05-04 17:00 | Royal Geographic Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AR, United Kingdom

Deadline: GSGSSI Consultation on 'Protect, Sustain, Inspire'
2021-11-24 00:00 - 23:59
The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands recently published their strategy document ‘Protect, Sustain, Inspire’, which is intended to guide their management of the territory over the next five years. They are asking for our input into how success will be measured. More details HERE.

SGA Online Talk - Saving Ocean Wanderers, with Yasuko Suzuki and Steph Prince
2021-11-18 19:30 - 21:00
Despite protections being put in place to stop albatrosses and other seabirds being accidentally killed in South Georgia waters in the early 2000’s, albatross populations continue to decline to this day. Since 2004 BirdLife International have been working to reduce albatross bycatch on the High Seas, where less protection for seabirds has been in place. Tracking studies have shown where conservation efforts need to be concentrated, and which fleets pose the greatest risk. Japan is one of the countries that has the potential to make the biggest difference to albatross conservation and so Yasuko is working to engage the fishing industry and public to make the oceans safer for South Georgia albatross.

Yasuko Suzuki is the Japan Marine Programme Office for BirdLife International, leading engagement work with the Japanese fishing industry, government, the tuna supply chain and the Japanese public to reduce seabird bycatch in distant water High Seas fleets.

Steph Prince is the High Seas Programme Manager for the BirdLife Marine Programme, leading projects to reduce seabird bycatch in global tuna fisheries around the world. She was previously a Zoological Field Assistant for the British Antarctic Survey, wintering at both Bird Island and King Edward Point.

This project was partly funded by the SGA Initiative Fund.

REGISTER HERE

Virtually Shackleton Online Autumn School 2021
2021-10-30 00:00 - 23:59 | Online – the Comfort of Your Own Home
The Shackleton Museum in Athy, Ireland will be holding its annual autumn Shackleton school at the end of October.

Devon and Cornwall Polar Society - "QUEST 100"
2021-09-24 00:00 - 23:59 | Duke of Cornwall Hotel, Plymouth, Millbay, Plymouth, PL1 3LG, United Kingdom
On Friday, 24 September 2021 Devon & Cornwall Polar Society are planning a one day event in Plymouth to commemorate the centenary of the sailing of Quest from Millbay Dock at the start of the Shackleton – Rowett Expedition.

There will be a selection of talks, films and displays and lunch taking up the full day.

Speakers already engaged are:

Paul Hart of “Antarctic Quest 21”, www.antarcticquest21.comAlan Noake of Kent Scouts – “Request 2021” www.kentscouts.org.ukDon Kerr – grandson of Alexander Kerr, Chief Engineer, “Quest”.Jan Chojecki – grandson of John Q Rowett – the philanthropist who financed the expedition.

The event will take place at the historic Duke of Cornwall Hotel, MIllbay, Plymouth where Shackleton stayed before sailing out of Plymouth Sound. A discounted accommodation package will be available for those wanting to stay overnight.

Once the arrangements have been re-confirmed the DCPS will circulate full details and a booking form.

South Georgia Heritage / UK Antarctic Heritage Trust Auction
2021-08-20 00:00 - 2021-09-30 23:59 | Online – the Comfort of Your Own Home
This is your chance to help raise funds for conservation work in South Georgia and Antarctica, by making a bid for a bargain! Auction lots include a very special Antarctic Cruise, behind-the-scenes tours, original artworks, signed memorabilia and much more.

SGA Online Talk - The Shackleton Crossing, by a Repeat Offender
2021-08-12 19:30 - 21:00
NB 1930 start time is BST, ie 1830 UTC/GMT

Since taking part in the IMAX film ‘Shackleton’s Antarctic Adventure’ in 2000, Stephen Venables has followed Shackleton’s route from King Haakon Bay to Stromness no less than four times, with a fifth crossing scheduled for 2022. He will describe the route and some of the peaks he has climbed along the way. His pictures will also highlight drastic changes to the landscape since 1916.

Following Stephen’s graphic description of following in Shackleton’s footsteps, Bob Burton will describe the hazardous arrival of the crew of the James Caird at South Georgia and their landing in Cave Cove. He will then take up the story again as Shackleton, Worsley and Crean arrive at Stromness and recover from their ordeal.

More Details and Registration Here

Sealing Site Archaeology Expedition Talk
2021-05-20 19:30 - 21:00
NB 1930 start time is BST, ie 1830 UTC/GMT

Marcus Brittain from the university of Cambridge will be talking online about the recent SGHT Archaeological Expedition that the SGA helped with. In 2019 they examined a number of sealing sites around South Georgia, uncovering a surprising amount of history. Bob Burton from the SGHT will tell us a little about what the fur seal fur was used for, and why the sealers were prepared to travel so far to procure them.

More Details Here

REGISTER HERE

SGA Annual General Meeting
2021-05-07 18:00 - 19:30 | Online – the Comfort of Your Own Home
The South Georgia Association will hold this year’s AGM online using Zoom on 7 May.
We were unable to hold an AGM last year so this online one will cover the past two years.
We will also be presenting (virtually) a Morag Husband Campbell Medal to a deserving recipient who has been making a significant contribution to South Georgia for many years.
Members will be contacted with more details in due course.

NB 1900 start time is BST, ie 1800 GMT/UTC

Wild Water Whales - Online Talk
2021-03-23 19:00 - 21:00 | Online – the Comfort of Your Own Home
New scientific discoveries about the population biology, connections, habitat use and health status of whales in sub-Antarctic South Georgia.
Sub-Antarctic South Georgia island in the South Atlantic is a key feeding ground for many whale species, and was heavily exploited during the 20th century by whalers. Whale populations were nearly eradicated by the 1960s, but in recent years, whales have become a common sight again.
The Wild Water Whales project is an international collaboration led by the British Antarctic Survey which aims to understand the population recovery, health, habitat use and migratory connections of right whales recovering in South Georgia waters. Along the way, this project has made discoveries about other species, also reporting high numbers of humpback whales and encountering a number of critically endangered Antarctic blue whales.
Over two webinars, hosted by the South Georgia Heritage Trust, the project team will describe the new findings and scientific activities arising from this project. After each presentation, there is time scheduled to ask questions using the Q&A tool.

Registration Page

Gilbert White Shackleton Talk Online by John Dudeney
2021-03-04 19:00 - 21:00
“This talk provides a new historical perspective on Sir Ernest Shackleton’s amazing adventure in the Weddell Sea – of brave hopes, hopes dashed, shipwreck and castaway, and ultimate survival. But in doing so, it will draw on previously unknown information from a century ago held in the UK National Archives which was recently uncovered by the speaker and his co-workers. The documents so discovered throw a rather different light the behaviour of both Shackleton and the British Government than the popular accounts provide. This is particularly the case concerning the attempts to find out what had happened to Shackleton and his men, and then, when he reappeared in the Falklands, to rescue the castaways on Elephant Island. It will also bring the “forgotten” men of the Ross Sea party into the limelight.”

SGA Talk – The A68 Iceberg at South Georgia
2021-02-25 19:00 - 21:00
Laura Gerrish and Sally Thorpe from the British Antarctic Survey tell us about the massive iceberg A68A that recently approached South Georgia, and the work being undertaken to study it, and its possible impacts on the island.

Online Talk No. 3 – Thursday 26 November 2020
2020-11-26 19:00 - 21:00
Three talks as follows:

John Dickens – Aerial Studies take off in South Georgia

John has worked at Bird Island and KEP for the British Antarctic Survey. He will discuss how drones are being used to observe wildlife in South Georgia, a pilot project he participated in during his time on the island with BAS.

Dr Robb Robinson – A Ghost Ship of Grytviken: some aspects of the career and context of Viola-Dias

Robb is a maritime historian based at the Blaydes Maritime Centre, Hull and an Honorary Research Fellow of the University of Hull. He is a Trustee of the Viola Trust which aims the return of the Viola/Dias from Grytviken to the UK, where she will be restored to form part of an extensive £30M Maritime Heritage Centre in Hull which will include showcasing South Georgia. He wrote the book with Ian Hart: “From Great war to Grytviken – Viola – The Life and Times of a Hull Steam Trawler” published in 2014. Robb will be talking about the Viola’s rich and diverse history.

Steve Brown – Update from GSGSSI

Steve is the Director of Operations for Government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands. He first visited South Georgia in 1999 whilst working for the British Antarctic Survey. He has had continued involvement in South Georgia works projects as well as infrastructure projects in Antarctica and on various South Atlantic British Overseas Territories.
