SHACKLETON MEDAL 2025 - THE SHORTLIST
109 years ago today on the island of South Georgia, Sir Ernest Shackleton was recovering in an upturned boat named “Pegotty Camp,” inspired by the Dickensian shelter of the same name. In the days that followed, he, Frank Worsley, and Tom Crean would complete the first crossing of South Georgia’s mountainous interior - an extraordinary feat that ultimately led to the miraculous rescue of the entire crew of the Endurance.
That daring journey brought Antarctica to the attention of the world. Today, both poles are once again in urgent need of global attention - and action. The annual Shackleton Medal for the Protection of the Polar Regions recognises individuals who are devoting their lives to the critical task of polar preservation.
From an exceptional longlist, we are proud to reveal the eight individuals shortlisted for the 2025 Shackleton Medal. This year’s shortlist represents an equal balance of women and men, with expertise spanning conservation, polar science, legal activism, underwater exploration, direct action, and storytelling. Together, they embody the spirit of Shackleton: courage, commitment, and an unwavering dedication to the world’s most fragile frontiers.
2025 SHACKLETON MEDAL SHORTLIST
Felicity Aston – Antarctic Explorer and Climate Scientist
The first woman to cross Antarctica solo, Felicity Aston completed the final leg of the “B.I.G. (Before It’s Gone) Arctic Research Expedition” last year—collecting vital environmental samples in the Canadian Arctic. She continues to champion polar science and diversity in exploration through speaking, writing, and public engagement.
Cormac Cullinan – Environmental Lawyer and Rights of Nature advocate
Through the Wild Law Institute, Cullinan is driving a legal revolution: advocating for Antarctica to be recognised as a rights-bearing entity under international law. His Antarctic Rights Initiative seeks to grant the continent the right to remain wild, undisturbed, and free from exploitation.
Dr Jamin S. Greenbaum – Antarctic Geophysicist
With 19 polar expeditions and groundbreaking airborne sensing technologies, Greenbaum is a leader in understanding how Antarctica’s ice sheet is melting. His international collaborations and innovative tools are reshaping how we predict global sea-level rise.
Dr Twila Moon – Climate scientist and Arctic Report Card Lead Editor
As lead editor of NOAA’s Arctic Report Card, Moon coordinated 97 scientists across 11 countries to assess the state of the Arctic in 2024 - concluding that the region is now emitting more carbon than it stores. Her work bridges climate science and policy at the highest levels.
Paul Nicklen – Conservationist, Marine Biologist and Photographer
Co-founder of SeaLegacy, Nicklen continues to use breathtaking imagery to shift public perception of the ocean’s importance. His exhibition Reverence and the global storytelling initiative 100 For The Ocean are inspiring audiences to act.
Captain Alex Cornelissen – Sea Shepherd’s frontline defender
Returning to Antarctica this year with Sea Shepherd, Cornelissen led a campaign to expose the environmental risks of krill fishing and transshipments in the Southern Ocean. His decades of frontline marine conservation continue to hold illegal and exploitative operations to account.
Professor Jemma Wadham – Glacier Biochemist, Adventurer and Author
Now leading the Centre for Ice, Cryosphere, Carbon and Climate in Tromsø, Wadham’s research is uncovering how melting glaciers may release vast stores of ancient carbon. A trailblazer in polar science and a powerful science communicator, she also overcame a life-threatening brain tumour while continuing to lead world-class research.
Professor Anna Wåhlin – Researcher on the Antarctic and Polar Seas
Wåhlin led the breakthrough mission deploying the RAN autonomous underwater vehicle beneath the Dotson Ice Shelf, producing the first detailed maps of its underside. Her findings offer game-changing insights into glacial melt and its drivers.
