National Geographic Polar Explorations

Course Overview

There’s no need for jackets, dog sleds, and woolen socks in this adventure into the polar regions of our planet. (And yes, there will be penguins.) In this unique collaboration, The Great Courses and National Geographic will take you on a journey beyond the Arctic and Antarctic circles. You will learn from a group of handpicked experts on a wide range of subjects, giving you one of the most comprehensive views of the polar regions available.

The course begins with the question of why people—from great 19th-century explorers like Ernest Shackleton to today’s leading scientists—journey to the poles. The answer is more complicated than you might imagine. Next, the course examines the geology and geography of the polar regions: how they were formed and how they continue to change. You will learn about the differences between the Arctic and Antarctic regions—one a vast frozen ocean and the other an icy desert continent—as well as their similarities.

You also will learn how conditions in these regions drive the global conveyor belt of currents and winds that heat and cool the Earth. The course then adopts an astronomer’s perspective to address the relationship between land and sky at the poles. You will learn about the polar seasons and unique phenomena such as auroras. You also will learn why Antarctica is the best place in the world to conduct particular types of astronomical research.

Throughout these lectures, you will discover how the native peoples of the Arctic region used the stars to survive in this challenging environment. The polar regions are home to many amazing forms of life. Some are well known, such as the Arctic polar bear, Antarctica’s many penguin species, the whales of the deep oceans, and the seals that live on both land and sea. The course covers a wide spectrum of polar wildlife, from the microscopic creatures that live beneath the surface of the sea ice to some of the largest mammals on Earth.

You will come to understand their interdependence on each other—and on the ice—in these remarkable and delicate ecosystems. Those fortunate enough to visit the polar regions will want to capture some of the beauty and excitement they experience in images. Thus, the course concludes with a special section on polar photography, covering not only the basics of preparation and gear but also the particular challenges of shooting at the poles, from white-on-white landscapes to animals in action. This comprehensive tour of the Arctic and Antarctic regions will not only demonstrate the beauty and history of these exceptional places, but it will also make you understand their irreplaceable value—not only for those who live and work there, but for all of us.

Course Structure

01: Passion for the Poles

What draws people to the poles again and again? What significance do these regions hold for the planet? Begin to answer these questions with Fen Montaigne, a journalist who has traveled extensively in the polar regions, as you delve into the awe-inspiring story of Ernest Shackleton’s struggles in Antarctica, as well as Montaigne’s own experiences.
Duration: 32 min

02: Seasons at the Poles

In the latitudes where most of us live, it’s easy to take the sun and its relationship with the Earth for granted. For us, the sun comes up and goes down reliably every day, yet the poles experience six months each of continuous night and constant day. What causes the seemingly strange behavior of the sun at the poles? What causes seasons? Find out in this lecture presented by astronomy professor.
Duration: 29 min

03: Connections between the Poles

The North and South Poles share a history that is unique and unlike any other place on Earth. Join Professor Michael Wysession as he lays the groundwork for understanding the polar regions with a discussion of their geology—dominated by ice, ocean, climate, and even nearby outer space—as well as their similarities and differences.
Duration: 33 min

04: The Saga of Arctic Exploration

Over the centuries, hundreds of people have perished trying to find their way through the Northwest Passage and to the North Pole, while hundreds more have spent months or years trapped on ships in Arctic sea ice. Discover how explorers such as Henry Hudson, Sir John Franklin, and Roald Amundsen opened up this polar region to the world.
Duration: 31 min

05: The Icy Heart of Polar Seas

Virtually every living thing in polar waters—from single-celled phytoplankton to whales—has evolved in a world dominated by sea ice. Study how Arctic and Antarctic marine ecosystems work, and consider what happens to a sea ice-dependent marine ecosystem when the sea ice begins to disappear.
Duration: 28 min

06: Geology of the Arctic Circle

Zoom in for a closer look at the unique geologic characteristics of the North Pole and surrounding Arctic Circle. First, take a brief geologic tour of the Arctic regions, then examine how the ocean, atmosphere, and surface geology all interact, and how this region has changed geologically over time.
Duration: 32 min

07: Science and Spirits of the Arctic Sky

Constellations were vital to the early Inuits’ survival, as they used the daily, monthly, and annual motions of the stars for timekeeping, navigation, and tracking the seasons. Explore this tradition and how it differs from Western astronomy, then investigate what causes the breathtaking aurora borealis.
Duration: 29 min

08: Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic

Although fewer than a half-million in number, Arctic dwellers are comprised of approximately 40 different ethnic groups. Learn how the Nenets of Russia, the Inuit of North America, and other communities survive, and how industrialization and other factors are altering traditional ways of life.
Duration: 31 min

09: Greenland and Arctic Islands

Delve into the past, present, and future of three of the most notable islands in the Arctic and sub-Arctic: Iceland, one of the world’s most geologically active areas; Greenland, which dwarfs all other Arctic islands in size; and the Svalbard archipelago, home to The Global Seed Vault.
Duration: 31 min

10: Terrestrial Mammals in the Changing Arctic

Now that Arctic sea ice is retreating, what will become of the polar bear? Will it survive and, if so, in what numbers? Learn how changes to the ecosystem are affecting the polar bears and the other remarkable animals that call the Arctic home, from the lemming to the Arctic fox.
Duration: 31 min

11: Seabirds of the Arctic and Antarctic

Discover the astonishing array of avian life—primarily consisting of seabirds—that live in, breed in, and migrate to the planet’s polar regions, including the albatross, the skua, the giant petrel, and the extraordinary Arctic tern, which carries out the longest annual migration of any living thing.
Duration: 30 min

12: Marine Mammals, from Whales to Walruses

The waters of the Arctic and Antarctica teem with a remarkable number of marine mammals. Get an overview of the mammalian wildlife that inhabits or migrates to polar waters, including white beluga whales, leopard seals, crabeater seals, and walruses. Examine the sophisticated social structure of orcas, also known as killer whales, and why it makes them such effective predators.
Duration: 29 min

13: The Race for the South Pole

Meet some of the towering figures of Antarctica’s “heroic era,” explorers and scientists in the early 20th century who vastly expanded our knowledge of the southernmost continent. Learn what drove these adventurers despite extreme hardship, and witness the treacherous race to the South Pole between Norwegian Roald Amundsen and Brit Robert Falcon Scott.
Duration: 31 min

14: Geological Features of Antarctica

The ice in Antarctica may be more than a mile thick and millions of years old, but at times in its history the continent has been covered with jungles. Investigate the unusual geologic processes occurring in Antarctica and discover what features may be buried under all that ice.
Duration: 28 min

15: Antarctica’s Window on the Universe

Above Antarctica is a cap of stars and constellations hidden from view in the Northern Hemisphere and containing some of the most beautiful sights in the night sky. Survey the region’s astronomical highlights and learn why, at the South Pole itself, astronomers and other scientists enjoy research conditions unrivaled anywhere else on Earth.
Duration: 31 min

16: Diving under Polar Ice

How do humans get beneath the surface of Arctic ice or the Antarctic Ocean? Join marine conservationist Sylvia Earle, a National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, as she explains the technologies scientists use to dive safely beneath the sea ice in an effort to expand our knowledge of marine ecosystems at both poles.
Duration: 26 min

17: Resource Development in Polar Seas

Humans are extracting krill and other marine life at unprecedented levels. Burning fossil fuels is causing ocean acidification. What will happen if we change the temperature or chemistry of the ocean? Consider such questions in this lecture on the delicate ecosystems of Earth’s oceans and the consequences of treating oceanic wildlife as commodities.
Duration: 25 min

18: South Georgia and Macquarie

Among the least inhabited places on Earth, the sub-Antarctic islands feature a spectacular array of wildlife despite a history of wanton exploitation beginning in the 18th century. Learn how seal, whale, and penguin populations were devastated on and around two of the sub-Antarctic’s most significant islands—South Georgia and Macquarie—and how each population has largely recovered.
Duration: 29 min

19: Living among the Penguins

Legendary Antarctic adventurer Apsley Cherry-Garrard said “all the world loves a penguin,” and in this lecture, you’ll understand why. Get acquainted with Adelie, emperor, and chinstrap penguins by exploring how each evolved into the fat, flightless swimmer it is today. Explore the history of their interaction with humans and their remarkable cycles of reproduction and survival.
Duration: 29 min

20: Antarctica-A Continent for Science

Survey the discoveries made and hardships suffered during centuries of scientific exploration in Antarctica, including a research expedition that sought viable emperor penguin eggs in an attempt to unlock an evolutionary mystery. See how Antarctic research helped create the modern sciences of oceanography, climatology, and glaciology, and is still driving scientific progress.
Duration: 34 min

21: Basics of Polar Photography

Picture being in the Arctic when a polar bear approaches your ship. What kind of camera should you use to capture the moment? What settings should you choose? Here, National Geographic photographer Ralph Lee Hopkins explains how to navigate the unique challenges of polar photography, from dealing with a “white world” to shooting atop a moving platform.
Duration: 31 min

22: Photographing Polar Landscapes

Photography is a blend of the creative and the technical and, in this lecture, you’ll focus on the creative side of the equation. Learn how to use lighting, composition, and moment to your advantage in the Arctic and Antarctica through techniques such as changing perspective, incorporating people into your shots, and using negative space.
Duration: 39 min