An Antarctic adventurer has been on a new expedition to share his South Pole science experiences with youngsters in schools in Newcastle.
Yesterday [Friday 26th February] Andrew Ledger dropped in on Year Nine and Ten pupils at Benfield School to tell them about his experiences trekking to the South Pole as part of the Shackleton Centenary Expedition in 2008-2009.
The tour, in which Andy has visited six schools, has been co-ordinated through Newcastle Science City’s programme to encourage youngsters to see how science can be used in many different settings.
The expedition – featured in a BBC documentary in 2009 – was made up of descendants of Ernest Shackleton and his party of explorers who were got within site of South Pole, but turned back under Shackleton’s direction to save the lives of his crew.
Andrew, aged 25, and who was the only member of the expedition not to be a relative of Shackleton and his crew, won a competition to join the party for the last, most gruelling leg of the journey – a 97 nautical mile trek to the South Pole in which he had to pull all his own supplies and tent, stave off frostbite, battle temperatures lower than -50OC and fierce ice storms.
During his school visits Andrew guides the youngsters through the science of Antarctica, from the way animals have adapted to the hostile climate, to how science conducted at the South Pole can reveal much about the history of the environment around the world.
Newcastle University graduate Andrew said: “You can’t get to the South Pole without science, whether it’s in the high tech clothes needed or the special diet to give you enough energy each day. That’s what I really want to show youngsters – that adventure needs science, and in turn through adventure you can find out more about the world in which we live.
“As an experience trekking the South Pole with the descendents of Shackleton’s party was absolutely amazing – we struck up some really close friendships and in a way we never wanted it to end.”
Karen Marshall, Education Skills and Community Engagement Manager at Newcastle Science City, said Andrew’s visit was part of a programme to show Newcastle children why science was so crucial.
“Andrew has an amazing story to tell and one that obviously inspires youngsters. What’s great is that he uses it to bring the science behind his adventures to life. No doubt it’ll encourage more budding adventurers to see where science can take them.”
Since returning from his adventure, Andrew has become a trustee of the Shackleton Foundation, a charity which supports individuals of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds who exemplify the spirit of the explorer: today’s inspirational leaders making a difference in their community.
The foundation is currently looking to award grants in the North East for more information, visit www.shackletonfoundation.org
