Congratulations to Dr John Shears FRGS, who has been awarded the Polar Medal by Her Majesty the Queen for outstanding achievement and service in the field of polar research.
The Polar Medal was established in 1904 to reward those on Captain Robert F. Scott’s first successful expedition to Antarctica. It has subsequently been used to recognise individuals giving valuable service in any expedition in conditions of extreme hardship, and recently has been awarded to scientists working over prolonged periods of time to advance knowledge of the polar regions. Previous recipients include Sir Ernest Shackleton, Sir Vivian Fuchs and Felicity Aston MBE.
Dr Shears is a polar geographer and environmental scientist with over 25 years’ experience of working in both the Arctic and Antarctica. He has worked at the British Antarctic Survey, been Treasurer of the Scott Polar Research Institute and an advisor to the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Polar Regions Department. For over 20 years he was the UK delegate to the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) Scientific Committee and was a UK Antarctic Treaty Inspector in 2005, 2012 and 2015. Dr Shears is also a former member of the Society’s Council of trustees.
Dr Shears is currently leading the Weddell Sea Expedition, of which the Society is educational partner. The expedition aims to investigate the ice shelves of the Weddell Sea, document the rich and little studied marine life and attempt to locate the wreck of the Endurance.
Find out more about the Weddell Sea Expedition.