Antarctic story mat, Polar Museum, University of Cambridge

Detail of snowflake.
Detail of snowflake.
Commissioned for the Shackleton anniversary, with a requirement that it be suitable for visually impaired people, this mat is vibrant and highly tactile with lots of textures, flaps to lift up, and pockets to hold handling samples. The mat includes the Antarctic landmass with the surrounding Southern Ocean showing the summer and winter extent of ice, and has panels and pockets detailing different forms of snow and ice. Scientific accuracy was important, and staff from British Antarctica Survey and Cambridge University provided valuable advice, especially on what fauna, lichens, fossils and geographical features would be appropriate. (1.7x1.7m, 2015)

Home