Five Marine Sciences school flags are travelling along with Antarctic Quest
2 February 2022
Flags with the logos of five schools that offer Marine Science as a subject are currently on the Antarctic Quest 21 expedition.
Antarctic Quest 21 is a British polar expedition to commemorate the life and scientific expeditions of Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton (15 February 1874 – 5 January 1922).
The expedition team is man-hauling all they need for their exploration and scientific research along their route in Antarctica. Their research includes studies on the long-range atmospheric transport of microplastics that have unfortunately been able to travel to places where no man has gone before.
A special service was held on 5 January, the centenary of Sir Shackleton’s death at South Georgia. They also have a large outreach and awareness component that the South African pilot node Marine Sciences schools form part of.
Through sponsorship by Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, two flags are travelling along with the expedition. One is a collage of school flags, hosting the Protea Heights Academy school flag along with those of various other schools, mainly from the United Kingdom. The second proudly displays the South African flag, along with the logos of the five pilot Marine Sciences schools (Gansbaai Academia, Melkbosstrand High School, Protea Heights Academy, South Peninsula High School and Simon's Town School) as well as the logos of the Two Oceans Aquarium and Antarctic Legacy South Africa.
The Two Oceans Aquarium developed this new subject for learners in Grades 10 to 12. The Marine Sciences learners are enthusiastically following the progress of the expedition in the white polar wilderness.