The South Georgia Association

Virtually Shackleton Online Autumn School 2021
2021-10-30 00:00 - 23:59 (Europe/London) | 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.

SGA Online Talks No. Two – 9 September 2020
2020-09-09 19:00 - 21:00 | Online – the Comfort of Your Own Home
Toothfish, Construction and Good Riddance to Rats

Following the success of our online talk – Whales, Mountains and Penguins – in June, we are holding another one. We are repeating the successful format of three short talks followed by questions from the ‘floor’. The event will be hosted via the online platform Zoom. For those unfamiliar with Zoom, we can forward instructions on how to download and use the app if requested.

Place: The comfort of your own home. SGA Members will be contacted by email with registration details. We will also keep you updated here, and on the FaceBook page.

Date: Wednesday 9 September 2020

Time: 7PM (1800 GMT for overseas participants )

How to Take Part: Email the communications editor HERE or use the form BELOW by Monday 7 September to register your interest and we will send you the link.

The meeting invitation will be sent out on Tuesday 8 September to the email address you have provided.

NB – you do not need to ‘sign up’ to a Zoom account in order to attend this meeting.

Tell your friends: Please feel welcome to invite non-members to participate – the more the merrier! (There is a maximum audience of 300 people).

The Speakers

Peter Thomson (Argos): The Fishing Industry and Science in the South Georgia Toothfish FisheryJoe Corner (BAS): Building Infrastructure on a Small Island – the New KEP WharfPat Lurcock: Confirming the Eradication of Rodents from South Georgia.

SGA Online Talks – Whales Penguins and Mountains
2020-06-25 00:00 - 23:59 | Online – the Comfort of Your Own Home
Dr Jennifer Jackson (BAS): Whale recovery at South Georgia: findings from three years of surveyDr Tom Hart (Oxford University): Counting the South Sandwich Islands: an interdisciplinary expeditionCrag Jones: President Gorbachev: My Part In His Downfall
