As the Arctic increasingly moves into the focus of international interests and the ecological consequences of ice loss at both poles become more visible, the search for the fifth recipient of the Shackleton Medal for the Protection of the Polar Regions has begun.
The award is presented each year on the birthday of polar explorer Ernest Shackleton and aims to highlight the global importance of these sensitive regions.
The medal was established in 2022 to mark the centenary of Shackleton’s death and carries a prize of £10,000. It honours individuals who contribute to the protection of the polar regions through courage, pioneering spirit and a strong sense of responsibility. Contributions from a wide range of fields are considered, from exploration, glaciology and wildlife research to international cooperation, innovation and engagement in climate and environmental protection.
Previous recipients reflect this diversity.
Dr Heïdi Sevestre collected important climate data during a demanding traverse of Antarctica, while polar explorer Pen Hadow brought protection issues concerning the Central Arctic Ocean into international discussions. Indigenous leader Valérie Courtois was honoured for her conservation work, and legal scholar Cormac Cullinan has advocated new legal perspectives on the governance of Antarctica.
The jury brings together international experts, including Pirita Näkkäläjärvi, Alexandra Shackleton, Martin Siegert, Klaus Dodds and John Geiger. The panel is chaired by scientist and author Professor Lewis Dartnell.
Nominations are open until 10 April.