Virtual reality experience brings immersive Antarctic tour exploration to Scotland
Scots are being given a unique opportunity to explore Antarctica's rich history through cutting edge virtual reality. Starting today, Thursday, May 8, the programme is available at Discovery Point Museum in Dundee until Sunday, May 11.
This special event is part of a tour by two key heritage charities, the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT) and New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust (NZAHT). For the first time, UKAHT and NZAHT are collaborating on a public tour across England and Scotland, using immersive VR to share the fascinating story of Antarctic science and exploration.
British expeditions played a significant role in shaping the continent's history, and this technology allows visitors to experience it firsthand. By simply putting on a VR headset, the public can take a remarkable step back in time, instantly transported to Antarctica.
The experience allows them to virtually enter and explore historic huts, come face to face with penguins, ride in a hydrogen balloon, feed huskies, encounter early explorers and scientists, and hear compelling stories of survival and innovation in one of the world's most extreme environments.
The tour features two distinct virtual reality experiences:
Immersive Antarctica: A Frozen Night
This 30 minute VR experience from the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust offers a detailed reconstruction of a historic scientific base. Participants step into the lives of overwintering Antarctic scientists, navigating the challenges of their amazing surroundings.
UKAHT works to conserve Britain's legacy in Antarctica, including six heritage sites like Base A, Port Lockroy, and legendary explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton's shipwreck Endurance. These sites were home to pioneering scientists and represent the dawn of Antarctica's scientific age.
Camilla Nichol, CEO of UKAHT, explained the experience brings heritage to life: 'A Frozen Night is UKAHT's first virtual reality experience based on a true story from the archives and narrated by those who lived and worked in our southernmost base, Stonington Island.
"One of the earliest British sites, established in 1948 and a key dog sledging base, Stonington Island enabled teams to travel far inland into the Antarctic Peninsula. Now, for the first time, A Frozen Night allows people to virtually travel into Stonington's past to experience the wonders and risks of Antarctic field work.'
UKAHT began digitising heritage sites with laser scanning and photogrammetry in 2019/20, creating vital records for conservation planning, especially for remote sites like Stonington Island. This data also enables innovative ways of sharing stories through VR.
Scott's Discovery Hut
The New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust presents their new VR experience of Captain Robert Falcon Scott's Discovery Hut. Built in 1902 on Ross Island, it is over 122 years old and was the first expedition base in the area. NZAHT is a not for profit organisation dedicated to preserving the bases and artefacts of explorers like Scott and Shackleton.
Working with New Zealand based tech company StaplesVR, NZAHT used LiDar and photogrammetry data to create the experience. Having raised significant funds in the UK for the initial conservation of Scott's bases, NZAHT is pleased to share their work saving Discovery Hut, including over 500 artefacts inside, with those who supported them.
NZAHT Executive Director Francesca Eathorne commented on the accessibility: 'We're excited to bring the hut to people virtually, making it accessible to those who may not have the opportunity to visit these historic sites in person.
"It gives great insight into the everyday items the explorers had with them and how they used the hut to support the important science and exploration they undertook."
She added that sharing through VR helps "educate people around the importance of saving this cultural heritage for future generations.'
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This VR tour, generously funded by The Charles Hayward Foundation and donors to NZAHT's Inspiring Explorers™ Fund, allows both charities to make the remote cultural heritage sites they care for more accessible to the public.
The opportunity to experience these immersive journeys into Antarctic history at Discovery Point Museum in Dundee runs from today, May 8, through to Sunday, May 11.
Tickets for the VR experiences at Discovery Point Museum can be booked now.
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