British Antarctic Survey trio honoured with Polar Medal

Three members of staff at the British Antarctic Survey have been granted the Polar Medal, a prestigious award handed out in recognition of excellence in polar research.

Meteorologist Steve Colwell, dive officer and base commander John Withers and field assistant and interim operations manager Simon Garrod join the likes of early polar explorers Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton as notable recipients of the prize.

The trio’s accolade comes just over three months after the British Antarctic Survey – a 50-year-old organisation at the forefront of polar and climate change research – was threatened by merger, following government plans to cut spending in the science sector.

But after significant opposition from MPs, scientists and campaign groups, universities and science minister David Willetts laid down a ministerial statement in the House of Commons in November confirming that the organisation would not be combined with the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton.

Colwell, Withers and Garrod have all spent significant time at Rothera Research Station – a British Antarctic Survey base located on the Antarctic Peninsula, and received their awards following approval from the Queen.

Further reading:

Government decides not to merge polar research centres

British Antarctic Survey cutbacks set to be scrapped

Government attacked on proposed cuts to British Antarctic Survey

On this day: reaching the Antarctic

British and Chilean Antarctic research centres set for collaboration