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Celebrating the legacy of Mawson's polar exploration

Friday, 31 January 2014

A series of events starting on 11 February will celebrate the life of the legendary ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide geologist Sir Douglas Mawson and mark the centenary of the return to South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of his Australasian Antarctic Expedition.

Mawson was a lecturer, then Professor of Geology and Mineralogy, at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide between 1905 and 1952.

His epic Australasian Antarctic "Aurora" Expedition made him one of ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s national heroes and, together with his other Antarctic expeditions, left an enormous scientific legacy and helped cement ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n claims to a large slice of Antarctica.

On 26 February 1914, the Aurora Expedition returned to South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ to much fanfare.

One hundred years later, the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide, in collaboration with the South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Museum, will re-examine the Aurora Expedition with a day-long symposium on Wednesday 26 February, 9am - 6pm, in the Mawson Laboratories, ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide.

Speakers at the Aurora Expedition Symposium include controversial historian David Day; author and ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide graduate Meredith Hooper (2014 ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n of the Year in the UK), modern scientist and explorer Professor Chris Turney (leader of the 2013-2014 Australasian Antarctic Expedition which became icebound) and descendants of Sir Douglas Mawson and colleague Cecil Thomas Madigan. Registration and further information at

Other ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide Mawson centenary events are:

Tuesday 11 February: Mawson in the Mirror. A Research Tuesday free forum at 5.30 pm in The Braggs at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide's North Terrace campus celebrating the qualities and achievements of Mawson. Speakers include Mark Pharaoh, Senior Collection Manager at the South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Museum, and Emma McEwin, Mawson's great granddaughter and author. Registration and further information at

Monday 24 February: A Tour of the Tate Museum, 11am, Mawson Laboratories, ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide. A free 30-minute tour to view the Antarctic specimens collected during the polar expeditions and held at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥. Meet in front of Elder Hall. Please register with art.heritage@adelaide.edu.au or 8313 3086.

18 February - 11 April: Sir Douglas Mawson and the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide. A free exhibition in the Rare Books and Special Collections, Level 1, Barr Smith Library, ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide, during normal Barr Smith Library . Further information from 8313 3086.

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