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University of Cambridge addresses colonial legacy in Antarctic exploration displays

Monday, 28 April 2025 1:46AM UTC

Cambridge University’s Polar Museum has introduced new signage acknowledging early Antarctic exploration as an example of colonialism, despite the continent’s lack of an indigenous population, as part of its wider Power and Memory project confronting the university’s historical ties to empire and colonialism.

The University of Cambridge has described early Antarctic exploration as an example of colonialism, despite the continent being uninhabited except for penguins. This assertion is part of a broader initiative by the university's museums to confront and acknowledge Cambridge’s historical links to colonialism and empire.

The university’s Polar Museum, which houses around 5,000 objects including artefacts related to famed explorers Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton, has installed new signage addressing these themes. One particular sign in the Antarctic display poses the question, “The colonised Antarctic?” and explains that at the start of the 20th century, Antarctica was largely unknown and became the focus of expeditions aimed at reaching the South Pole. It states, “At the same time, these expeditions were in the colonial mould – claiming land, mapping, prospecting for resources, even sending stamps as a sign of ownership.” The sign draws attention to Antarctica’s unique status, noting that “The only difference was that there was not an indigenous population in Antarctica.”

The signage references definitions of colonialism, highlighting the Cambridge Dictionary’s description as “the belief in and support for the system of one country controlling another,” although it acknowledges that other definitions emphasise control over territory and peoples, such as that from the Oxford Dictionary of Human Geography.

This effort falls under the university’s “Power and Memory” project, which aims to reveal and address the institution's historical entanglements with colonialism, empire, and slavery. The Polar Museum has also sought to uncover “hidden histories” within its collection, presenting perspectives that challenge traditional narratives of Arctic and Antarctic exploration. For example, some displays note that during interactions with indigenous communities in polar regions, explorers often held disproportionate power. There is also recognition of the contributions made by black individuals within polar research.

Separately, the Fitzwilliam Museum at Cambridge is currently hosting an exhibition titled Rise Up, which explores the history of slavery and its abolition. The exhibition catalogue controversially claims that renowned physicist Stephen Hawking, among others, indirectly benefited from funds with origins in slavery that were donated to Cambridge approximately 200 years before his birth. This assertion has been met with criticism from professors and historians who argue that the museum’s interpretation misrepresents historical facts.

These developments form part of wider debates about how institutions address the legacies of colonialism and empire, with Cambridge University’s museums taking steps to confront these complex subjects through exhibitions and newly installed interpretive materials.

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/04/26/britains-exploration-south-pole-colonial-cambridge-museum/ - This article supports the claim that the University of Cambridge describes early Antarctic exploration as colonial, despite the continent being uninhabited. It highlights the Polar Museum's effort to confront Cambridge's colonial past.
https://www.gbnews.com/news/woke-madness-cambridge-university-south-pole-colonialism - This news piece corroborates the assertion that Britain's South Pole exploration is described as colonial by Cambridge University, although no human population lived there.
https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/class-and-colonialism-in-antarctic-exploration-17501920/DF17F40011CBBA56F6EB3C170E80E2AB - This book chapter provides historical context on how Antarctic exploration can be viewed as an extension of European colonialism, despite the absence of an indigenous population.
https://www.spri.cam.ac.uk/research/hcep/ - This webpage supports the idea that museums at Cambridge are involved in projects to explore historical and cultural aspects of polar exploration, including its intersections with colonialism.
https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/class-and-colonialism-in-antarctic-exploration-17501920/imperialism-and-the-heroic-age-of-antarctic-exploration-18901920/F70B173DB6CEB47D462B98AAE8F550C1 - This chapter highlights how the mindset of Antarctic explorers in the early 20th century was fundamentally colonial, even though their expeditions did not involve direct colonization of people.
https://www.noahwire.com - This source provides context for broader debates about institutions addressing legacies of colonialism, including how Cambridge University is approaching these issues through its museums.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14653891/Exploring-Antarctic-colonialism-claims-Cambridge-University-penguins-live-there.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 - Please view link - unable to able to access data

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 7

Notes: The narrative mentions current initiatives and exhibitions at Cambridge University, indicating recent activity. However, it references historical events and definitions of colonialism without specific dates or recent news hooks, which could suggest some elements might not be entirely new.

Quotes check

Score: 8

Notes: There are no direct quotes from individuals in the provided text. The narrative relies on explanatory signage and general statements, which do not require specific quote verification.

Source reliability

Score: 9

Notes: The narrative originates from a well-known media outlet, the Daily Mail. While it may have varying levels of credibility depending on the topic, in this context, it reports on publicly accessible information and events at a reputable institution like Cambridge University.

Plausibility check

Score: 8

Notes: The claims about the university's efforts to address colonialism are plausible given current global discussions on these themes. The mention of Stephen Hawking benefiting from funds with origins in slavery has been controversial, but this aligns with broader historical debates about the origins of institutional wealth.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The narrative appears to be well-supported, with reliable sources and plausible claims, although some assertions may be subject to interpretation and debate. The lack of specific quotes and the mix of historical and contemporary themes affect the freshness and plausibility scores slightly.

University of Cambridge
colonialism
Antarctic exploration
Polar Museum
Power and Memory project
colonial legacy
museum exhibitions