Polar explorers discuss the science behind their extreme expeditions at St George’s, University of London lecture

Polar explorers discuss the science behind their extreme expeditions at St George’s, University of London lecture

9 November 2009

Renowned polar explorers Dr Mike Stroud OBE and Dr Ed Coats revisit their alma mater to share their experiences of expeditions which have seen them endure some of the toughest conditions known to man during a lecture at St George’s, University of London.

During the lecture, extreme endurance: polar expeditions and St George’s, Stroud and Coats will provide first-hand and scientific insight into the impact on body and mind of extreme conditions, where temperatures can drop to a blood-chilling minus 60 degrees whilst the body is forced to expend up to 10,000 calories each day in order to survive.

The lecture takes place on Monday 30 November 2009 at 6pm on the University’s campus (based within St George’s Hospital) Cranmer Terrace, Tooting, London, SW17 0RE

Dr Mike Stroud, who is a practising hospital physician and recently adviser to the Ministry of Defence on survival, is best known for his record-breaking expeditions with Sir Ranulph Fiennes. They first teamed up in 1986, and in 1992/3 broke several records when completing the first unaided walk across Antarctica and the South Pole. In 2003, he and Sir Ranulph completed seven full marathons on seven continents in just seven days. 

As a leading authority on survival, nutrition and endurance, Stroud was the endurance and medical expert on all three series of BBC TV’s Are You Tough Enough for the SAS. He is also the presenter on BBC’s The Challenge.

Dr Ed Coats has represented Great Britain as a decathlete, captained two teams that swam the English Channel in 2003 and has completed the Karrimor Mountain Marathon.  In 2009, he joined James Cracknell and Ben Fogle on their epic race to the South Pole as featured in this year's BBC documentary 'On Thin Ice'.  After racing for 473.6 miles, Ed, James and Ben crossed the finish line in second place, just behind their Norwegian rivals.

The evening's events will be introduced by fellow St George’s alumna Dr Isobel Williams, author of 'With Scott in the Antarctic, Edward Wilson Explorer Naturalist Artist', which documented Wilson's involvement in Captain Scott's expedition to the South Pole in the early twentieth century.

There will be an opportunity to ask all three speakers questions during the evening.

Places are limited so must be reserved in advance by emailing hl2020@sgul.ac.uk