100 years of Discovery

On December 14, 1911, Norwegian Roald Amundsen became the first person to reach the South Pole.  One hundred years later, Antarctica is a continent dedicated to cutting-edge research. It houses some of the most innovative experiments in the world, including the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, Askaryan Radio Array, and Dark Matter-Ice.

To celebrate the centennial of South Pole exploration, the Wisconsin IceCube Particle Astrophysics Center (WIPAC) hosted an evening of exploration and learning at the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery on the campus of the University of Wisconsin–Madison on December 13, 2011.  The theme of the event was “100 Years of Discovery: From the South Pole to the Edge of the Universe” and it showcased the history of Antarctic exploration and science.

Event participants learned about Antarctica’s volcanic rocks, animals, meteorology, and melting ice sheets through interactive displays, graphic displays, and conversations with those doing the research.  Activity presenters included individuals from UW-Madison’s Geology Museum, the Space Science and Engineering Center, IceCube, and the Department of Norwegian Studies, as well as a local dog-sled expert.

Presentations were given by Senior Lecturer of Scandinavian Studies, Peggy Hager, discussing Norway’s tradition of exploration; IceCube Associate Researcher, Mark Krasberg, sharing his experiences as a modern science explorer at the South Pole; and IceCube Principal Investigator, Francis Halzen, explaining IceCube science research.