To mark the 90th anniversary of the death of Jean-Baptiste Charcot, the French Embassy in Iceland, the University of Iceland, the Icelandic Biological Society and
the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute invite you to a symposium exploring his life, work, and enduring legacy.
The symposium will be held between 3.30 and 5 pm on Thursday, 17 September in Veröld – House of Vigdís, University of Iceland.
Jean-Baptiste Charcot and around 40 others lost their lives when the French research vessel Pourquoi-Pas? was wrecked in a violent storm off the coast of Mýrar in Borgarfjörður 90 years ago. The event is organised by the French Embassy in Iceland, the University of Iceland, the Icelandic Society of Biology, and the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute.
The tragedy occurred on 16 September 1936 and remains firmly embedded in the national memory. Charcot was a great friend of Iceland and visited the country many times with his colleagues. He led numerous scientific expeditions to both the Arctic and Antarctica and is regarded as one of the pioneers who laid the foundations of modern polar research.
He led numerous scientific expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic regions and is widely regarded as one of the founders of modern polar science.
A physician, scientist, and pioneering polar explorer, Charcot led several major expeditions to Antarctica and the Arctic, significantly advancing geographical and scientific knowledge of some of the world’s least explored regions. His expeditions brought together scientists from multiple disciplines and produced important
contributions to oceanography, geography, geology, and marine biology.
The symposium will revisit Charcot’s contributions to science and exploration and
consider how his work continues to inspire contemporary research and academic thought.
The symposium is open to all. Please click here for details on the programme and registration.