Abstract

The centenary of scott’s arrival at the south pole in 1912 and of his tragic death during the return journey has been celebrated through exhibitions and conferences, while a general reassessment of scott’s figure has been provided by several scholars. in particular, the scientific role of the 1910-12 british antarctic expedition is now emphasized: Scott’s aim was not only to reach the pole but especially to collect data and geological specimens of a completely unknown continent. This introduction focuses on the scientific dimension of scott’s enterprise, giving special attention to the role of photography, employed during the expedition as a tool of scientific exploration, and to the crucial impact of photographs on the modern perception of antarctica. another important point concerns the scott polar Research institute, founded in 1920 to commemorate scott, that laid the foundations of polar studies and pioneered scientific research throughout the twentieth century