In 1927, a small group of Oxford students set out on bold expeditions into the Arctic wilderness. They mapped unknown landscapes, documented fragile ecosystems, and built a legacy of exploration that still inspires scientists and adventurers today.

Nearly a century later, we are returning to those same wild frontiers.

In 2026, a new generation of Oxford explorers will embark on three interconnected Arctic expeditions to Iceland, Svalbard, and Greenland, retracing historic routes first charted in the early 20th century. These journeys are part of a three-year, seven-expedition series marking the 100th anniversary of the Oxford University Exploration Club (OUEC) and celebrating a century of student-led exploration.

Why These Expeditions Matter

This isn’t just an anniversary celebration, it’s a vital scientific endeavour in one of the most rapidly changing and climate-sensitive regions on Earth. The Arctic plays a crucial role in global climate systems, and understanding its ongoing transformation is essential for informing future environmental stewardship and sustainability.

Our teams of Oxford students and researchers will conduct interdisciplinary fieldwork in key Arctic regions, combining historical perspectives with cutting-edge science. This research includes:

Cryospheric Hydrology & Surface Modelling: Investigating how glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) along the Greenland Ice Sheet are evolving with climate change, and the implications for ice retreat in a warming world.

Freshwater Inputs & Trophic Responses: Studying how freshwater flows influence food webs in Svalbard’s Kongsfjorden ecosystem, from chemistry to wildlife behaviour, to better understand land-sea ecological connections.

Cultural Ecologies & Sustainable Adaptation: Exploring how Arctic environments and communities in Iceland are responding to change, integrating geoscience with cultural and ethnographic inquiry to rethink sustainable futures.

By linking archival study with on-site fieldwork, these expeditions will reveal how the Arctic has transformed over the last century and help guide how we protect it for the next.

Beyond Research: Building the Next Generation of Explorers

More than 20 Oxford students will gain hands-on field experience, learning survival skills, refining research methods, and forging partnerships with Arctic communities and institutions. These expeditions are transformative: they shape future scientists, policymakers, and environmental advocates.

Our work won’t end in the field. Findings will be shared widely through public exhibitions, talks, films, and educational materials, ensuring that this journey inspires far beyond Oxford.

Why We Need Your Help

Expeditions of this scale require significant resources, from field gear and safety equipment to research instruments and logistics support in remote regions.

Your contribution directly funds this mission: it powers climate research, fuels discovery, and supports the next generation of explorers.

Every gift, large or small, helps us walk in the footsteps of those who came before and carry their legacy into the future.

Be Part of History

By supporting this campaign, you become part of a story that began in 1927 and continues today, one of exploration, discovery, and stewardship of the Arctic.

Help us map the past, understand the present, and protect the future.

Join us as we celebrate 100 years of exploration and embark on the next century’s journeys.

Thank you for helping make the Oxford Centennial Arctic Expeditions possible.

Learn more about the project here: https://www.oxford100arcticexpeditions.com/

Supporter & Sponsorship Tiers

Every contribution helps make the Oxford Centennial Arctic Expeditions possible, from essential research equipment to travel logistics and safety gear. Your support directly fuels our work retracing historic Arctic routes and training the next generation of explorers.

Friend of the Arctic – £25+

• Name listed under “Supporters” on the expedition website

• Digital thank-you postcard from the team

• Access to expedition news and updates

Polar Supporter – £100+

• All previous benefits

• Expedition sticker pack or digital badge

Arctic Ally – £250+

• All previous benefits

• Expedition T-shirt with the Oxford Centennial Arctic Expeditions logo

• Invitation to a virtual Q&A session with team members

Explorer’s Circle – £500+

• All previous benefits

• Expedition beanie or hoodie

• Name featured in our post-expedition thank-you video