PRESS RELEASE

In the footsteps of Anton Rolandsson Martin (1729-1785) one of the first scientific polar explorers to set foot on Spitsbergen in 1758, the Bridge Builder Expeditions aim to bring clarity to his journey with the aid of modern day technology. This first expedition starting 1st September 2016 with at least two more planned in the coming three years. 

The expedition is undertaken through the cooperation between The IK Foundation, Swedish Museum of Natural History, University of Gothenburg (Valand Academy) and the Grenna Museum - The Andrée Expedition Polar Centre.

The first expedition aims to follow Anton Rolandsson Martin’s sailing route along the western coast of Spitsbergen, from Longyearbyen to the Hakluytodden. The expedition includes 15 interdisciplinary participants emanating from various scientific fields and organisations - with expertise stretching from Glaciology to Nordic Languages. The expedition will lay the groundwork for the future in-depth scientific understanding of Spitsbergen. 

The results of the expedition will in the future be displayed in an exhibition at the Grenna Museum - The Andrée Expedition Polar Centre, Sweden. But before then a wide variety of information will also be published online and in articles under the Creative Commons license. 

ABOUT

• The Bridge Builder Expeditions is the overarching definition for a series of contemporary and scientifically sustainable projects established by The IK Foundation, an undertaking which aims to inspire and to contribute to our understadning of our shared planet. The expedition to Spitsbergen is the third expedition to be undertaken as part of the Bridge Builder concept.  

READ MORE

• Detailed expedition information iProjects|BRIDGE BUILDER EXPEDITIONS - SPITSBERGEN (SVALBARD 2016)
• Tracking in the footsteps of Anton Rolandsson Martin