Universities Network: COP26 Images of Innovation Exhibition
British Antarctic Survey (BAS) science is exhibited in the COP26 Universities Network Innovation Showcase website launched today (19 October). Online visitors can explore the Innovation Showcase to find out how academics and partners, across the UK and beyond, are informing action and aiding adaptation to our changing climate.
Launched in advance of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (31st October- 12th November 2021), the Innovation Showcase aims to catch viewers’ attention with engaging imagery to communicate the story of science and technological innovations. The Innovation Showcase explains how innovative science and technology is helping or, in future, could substantially help the goals of COP26 and of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enabling adaptation to climate change or informing action related to climate change.
In-person visitors can view the exhibition at The Ramshorn throughout COP26. The building will be open to the public Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Tickets are not required. Please note, access may be limited during busy periods and events due to social distancing requirements. You can check the events calendar to best plan your visit around those times.
Behind the Science
BAS science showcased in the ‘Behind the Science‘ section in the Innovation Showcase includes an entry led by BAS scientist Dr Tom Jordan, illustrating the mapping of bathymetry beneath ice shelves at Thwaites Glacier as part of the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration (ITGC). The huge international and interdisciplinary ITGC aims to help decision-makers understand the likely risks of sea-level rise and allows for proportionate and timely adaptation.
Video: Deep channels beneath Thwaites Glacier – Published in September 2020 in the journal The Cryosphere, two research papers described the discovery.
This section also features studies exploring innovative ways to monitor king penguin populations (entry led by Dr Norman Ratcliffe) and emperor penguins (entry led by Dr Peter Fretwell) to understand the impact on breeding and feeding grounds due to icebergs and changes in availability of sea ice.
Explore ‘Behind the Science‘ to see more ways BAS science is helping understand the impact of our changing climate.
Living on Land and Sea
Learn all about research into the ‘Zooplankton Plastic Pump‘ under this section with BAS scientists Dr Clara Manno and Dr Elisa Bergami. Zooplankton regulate the oceanic sink of atmospheric CO2 by promoting the transport of carbon to the oceanic sediments. This carbon transport is threatened by microplastics, which find their way into zooplankton. The British Antarctic Survey’s CUPIDO project uses novel field measurements to assess the transfer of microplastics in the ocean once incorporated into zooplankton (Zooplankton Plastic Pump) and how it might affect the oceans’ capability to regulate atmospheric CO2 levels.
Telling the Story
Under ‘Telling the Story’ you can read about ‘Wearable climate trends‘, a shirt created by DressCode in collaboration with BAS as a novel platform for storytelling and visualising key data about the warming trends of the Polar regions (entry led by Pilvi Muschitiello, BAS and Andy Boothman, DressCode). It aims to raise awareness of the highest C02 levels our planet has experienced over the last 800,000 years. Recent Arctic warming can be seen on the main fabric, showing Antarctic long-term climate perspectives through the reveals on cuffs and collars.
Video: The ‘Climate Code’ shirt black button design detail and the ozone story – DressCode Shirts Founder and Creative Director Andy Boothman interviews BAS Atmospheric scientist John Turner about the research work conducted at the British Antarctic Survey.
These BAS projects are just some examples of the world-leading work led and contributed to by our colleagues across the field of polar science and operations. Visit the COP26 Universities Innovation Showcase to read more about each project and team of collaborators.