Dr Sam Willis and archivist Zach Schieferstein discuss the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition of 1902-1904 led by William Spears Bruce. The expedition's vessel, the Scotia, was extensively rebuilt for polar exploration, featuring two laboratories and advanced scientific equipment. The Scotia established Omond House, the first permanent weather station in the South Orkney Islands, and collected foundational data on Antarctic seas. Despite challenges, the expedition made significant scientific contributions, including the first oceanographic exploration of the Weddell Sea. The Scotia later served as a weather ship and freighter before sinking in 1916. Sam and Zach met at the archives of Lloyd's Register to explore this fascinating history through a variety of important original documents.
","author_name":"The Society for Nautical Research and the Lloyds Register Foundation"}