Shackleton expedition raises £45k

AN expedition to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton’s last journey has raised more than £45,000 through its Crowdfunding campaign.

His mission to Antarctica in the winter of 1921 left from Plymouth and the project to mark the anniversary has been backed by Plymouth City Council, which added £15,000 through its City Change Fund.

Explorer in residence at Plymouth Museum’s The Box, Dr Antony Jinman, is among the team of serving and ex-military personnel who will join the educational adventure to retrace Shackleton’s steps. He said: “We are delighted by the success of the crowdfunder to support this historic project to provide education in schools and remembering Shackleton and the extraordinary impact he had not only on the world of adventure but of science and conservation too.”

A century ago Shackleton, acclaimed as one of the world’s greatest polar explorers, set out on a mission to use science to map the extent of Antarctica but died before he could complete the project. Now the Antarctic Quest 21 team, led by Plymouth-based explorer Paul Hart with Dr Jinman as deputy, aim to finish what Shackleton started and in doing so hope to make history themselves.

Their trip will see them cross the Antarctic peninsula to complete scientific experiments on climate change and polar impact, collecting data samples and bringing them back for analysis into the level of micro-plastic contamination and metallic deposition influencing the carbon cycle.