Antarctic Research Centre
The Antarctic Research Centre is part of the School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences at Victoria University of Wellington. Its mission is to research "Antarctic climate history and processes, and their influence on the global climate system." Its current director is Professor Tim Naish.History
The ARC was established in 1972 as part of the Department of Geology at Victoria University. Its first director was Professor Peter Barrett.Research
Research conducted at ARC focuses on climate change, including the analysis of ocean floor sediment cores and ice cores, and glacial modeling. Researchers from ARC have studied different factors that impact polar ice, including levels and oscillations in the Earth's orbit.Antarctic Expeditions
The ARC conducts annual research explorations, known as the Victoria University of Wellington Antarctic Expeditions, into Antarctica. The first expedition, which explored the McMurdo Dry Valleys was undertaken on December 30, 1957, by Peter Webb and Barrie McKelvey, two third-year geology students. Since then, students and staff have made annual expeditions to conduct research in areas such as glacial history and climate change.
Researchers that have been involved in VUWAEs include Harold Wellman, who discovered the Alpine Fault.
Expedition reports have been digitised by the New Zealand Electronic Text Collection.
