Antarctica and the global jigsaw – a centennial perspective

Historical perspectives have shown how several scientific disciplines have developed their Antarctic component over the last century. Antarctic science has changed from a secondary activity of privately organised expeditions by a few countries to a major international activity supported by over 30 countries and and making a major contribution to Earth System Science and the improvement of global climate models. What was once a backwater of science is now in the main stream and the seminal contributions of the Discovery expedition and others from the "Heroic Age" of exploration are now becoming clear.