LEGACY

Since 1912, peoples' opinions of Scott have changed.

At first he was viewed as a hero. In later years he was seen as someone who had been courageous but careless.

Today we remember him more fondly - for leading the first British expedition to reach the South Pole and for the scientific results of his two expeditions, both of which laid the foundations for Antarctica's environmental research and climate research studies.

Achievements

Scott's expeditions:

• helped map this strange and difficult landscape
• generated photographs of and information about the geology and wildlife
• taught us about the weather patterns and ice flows
• established shore bases and shelters
• created one of the most compelling visual records in the history of exploration thanks to Herbert Ponting's archive of 1,700 photographs of the Terra Nova Expedition
• helped us understand the pitfalls of polar exploration, such as scurvy, snow blindness and frostbite
• initiated analysis and improvements surrounding the use of skis, dogs, other forms of transport, clothing and food supplies

Across the world

The achievements of Scott and his crew have been marked across the world with memorials, statues, plaques, stained glass windows and streets names.

The last century has also seen the establishment of the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge, the founding of the USA's Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station scientific base, and the preservation of 'Scott's Hut' and 'Discovery Hut' on Ross Island by New Zealand and the UK.

Here in Plymouth

Locally, Plymouth has a major arterial route named Outland Road (Scott was born at an estate called Outlands), off which Scott Road, Wilson Crescent, Bowers Road, Oates Road, Evans Place and Terra Nova Green can be found.

An impressive memorial statue was unveiled in 1925 in the Mount Wise area and a special rededication ceremony took place in March 2012 as part of Plymouth's centenary celebrations. The memorial is supported by Plymouth City Council.

Plymouth Hospitals Trust also continues to support polar exploration by providing a medical support unit to the British Antarctic Survey.