RRS Sir David Attenborough to call at Greenwich

The Thames at Greenwich will be centre stage in a major festival of polar environmental science and engineering (28-30 October), supported by the PLA.

On the eve of the UN COP26 conference in Glasgow, British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and the Royal Museums Greenwich have teamed up to showcase the role of science, engineering and technology in tackling climate change.

The three-day programme of events will feature expert talks and virtual tours of RRS Sir David Attenborough, Britain’s new polar research vessel, which will be making her debut visit to London on 28 October. She will be moored at our Greenwich Ship Tier. Public tours of the vessel are not possible, due to the pandemic, but giant quayside video screens will offer a glimpse of life on board, with footage also streamed live online.

RRS Sir David Attenborough was commissioned by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and built in Birkenhead by #CammellLaird.

Dr Beatrix Schlarb-Ridley, director of innovations and impact at BAS, said: “This is a great chance for the whole family to hear first-hand from our experts on their pioneering work to understand the challenges of climate change. The polar regions have been a focus for scientific enquiry and exploration for centuries. As we confront the consequences of climate change, understanding that legacy is more important than ever.”

The National Maritime Museum is home to some of the most significant records and artefacts in British polar exploration history.

Photo credit: Will Whatley/BAS