Photo: CPS members during a guided tour of the Polar Museum at the Scott Polar Research Institute.

Each year CPS members visit a different location of scientific interest on visits across the University of Cambridge and to other sites of scientific interest across the UK.

This year, CPS members enjoyed a guided tour of the Polar Museum and Library in Cambridge. The Polar Museum, part of the Scott Polar Research Institute displays a range of objects, artworks, documents and photographs from the institute's extensive polar collections. 

The Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI) was founded by Frank Debenham in 1920 as the national memorial to Captain Robert Falcon Scott and his companions, who perished on their return journey from the South Pole in 1912.

The collections include material related to polar history, exploration, science, art and Arctic cultures. Of particular interest are:

- Fossil ferns from approximately 140 million ago.
- Snow googles used by Ernest Shackleton on the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition 1914-16 (Endurance) – given to him by Harald Nilsen.
- An unopened tin of pemmican taken from the hut of the British Antarctic Expedition 1907-09 (Nimrod).
- A folding camera, manufactured by A.E. Staley & Co. and used by Robert Falcon Scott at the South Pole, 1912, on the British Antarctic Expedition 1910-13 (Terra Nova).

As a benefit of membership of the CPS, members take part in free visits throughout the year to various science related locations across the UK. To join the Cambridge Philosophical Society visit our membership page here

Photo: CPS members looking at a display of archives at the Scott Polar Research Institute Library.