2019 Weddell Sea Expedition
A pioneering Antarctic expedition into the depths of the frozen Weddell Sea.
About the 2019 Weddell Sea Expedition
Bringing together world-leading experts in polar and marine exploration in a mission to solve unanswered questions about one of the most remote and least-studied wilderness areas on our planet.
The expedition:
- Investigated the ice shelves around the Weddell Sea and, in particular, the Larsen C Ice Shelf from which a giant iceberg broke off in July 2017.
- Documented the rich and little-studied marine life of the western Weddell Sea ecosystem.
- Attempted to locate and survey the wreck of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endurance, which was trapped and crushed by the ice and sank in the Weddell Sea in 1915. Conditions in the Weddell Sea sadly prevented the team from reaching Endurance in 2019.
The Society worked with the 2019 expedition to provide educational resources to inspire young people about science, engineering and technology, as well as the protection of Antarctica. This work and the accompanying 2019 expedition resources ensure that the research and findings are shared as widely as possible to students and schools around the world.
For additional educational resources about Antarctica for primary and secondary schools take a look at our Resources for schools page.
Find out more about the Endurance22 Expedition, which located the wreck of Endurance, Sir Ernest Shackleton's ship, in March 2022.
Additional resources are available for KS1 and KS2 pupils from Scott Polar Research Institute.
The 2019 Weddell Sea Expedition was funded by the Flotilla Foundation. The Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, leads the pioneering science programme, in partnership with The Nekton Oxford Deep Ocean Research Institute, and a team of international researchers from South Africa and New Zealand. The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) was the expedition education partner in the UK.
