The Ohio State University’s Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Archival Program (Polar Archives) has announced the 2023-2024 recipient of the $5,000 Polar Archives Award. Philip van Dueren, a volunteer for the Sir Hubert Wilkins Foundation in Australia, was selected from a pool of eight applicants.
Van Dueren will visit the Archives to conduct his research in the summer of 2023. As he states in his application, van Dueren’s research will “further draw on the resources of Ohio State to create a more comprehensive body of knowledge around Wilkins’ contribution to a wide range of domains through further examination of his diaries, reports and letters. This work is not only valuable to historians and other researchers, but provides an opportunity to grow public (and academic) awareness of the rich holdings of the Ohio State Polar Archives.”
"One of the reasons we chose van Dueren is because his research will benefit Wilkins scholars around the globe,” said Polar Archives Curator Laura Kissel. “It allows for greater access to this invaluable source of primary research materials."
The Polar Archives Research Award is given annually and is available to graduate students, faculty and independent scholars who demonstrate a need to utilize the collections onsite. To learn more about the award and how to apply, visit the award page.
Formally established in 1990, the Polar Archives is a collaborative effort of the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center and The Ohio State University Libraries. The goal of the Polar Archives is to make historical, rare and unique information about polar exploration and scientific investigation available for use within the context of an active polar research environment.