Exeter Fellow joins Oxford Centennial Arctic Expedition in Svalbard
Exeter’s Staines Medical Research Fellow, Dr Lukas Krone, has returned safely from Svalbard. On this journey to the far north, he served as the expedition medic for the 2026 “Sandy Irvine Expedition”, which forms part of the Oxford Centennial Arctic Expedition Project. Hosted by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) station in Ny-Ålesund, the world’s northernmost settlement, the team of five scientists conducted ornithological and geochemical research related to climate change in one of the fastest-warming regions of our planet. Reflecting on the team’s successful fieldwork, Dr Krone said:
“It has been an enormous privilege to serve this fantastic group of passionate young scientists aiming to understand and address some of the most pressing issues related to the fragile Arctic ecosystem.”
During the year-long build-up to the expedition, Dr Krone and his team systematically developed a detailed research agenda, logistical plans, and the technical skills necessary to acquire data in the harsh conditions of Svalbard, known for its rapidly changing weather and hostile climate. Reflecting on his personal journey towards participating in the expedition, Dr Krone said:
“I am particularly grateful to the Exeter family – students, staff, fellows, and alumni alike – who encouraged and sponsored me to fulfil this long-standing dream. Their unwavering support, despite the uncertainty following my accident in the spring, strengthened my determination to follow through with my long-standing plan to finally participate in an expedition.”
The team will organise an evening dedicated to Oxford’s Svalbard expeditions. The programme will include impressions of Sandy Irvine’s 1923 journey from his biographer, Julie Summers, alongside a report on this year’s expedition and the unveiling of plans for the centenary of the Oxford University Exploration Club.
The event, on Wednesday, 25 November 2026, at Exeter’s Cohen Quad will be family-friendly and open to the public. Doors open at 5:30 pm, and the event is expected to finish at around 7:00 pm with a drink’s reception.
Dr Lukas Krone representing Exeter College in Svalbard, overlooking the Arctic landscape during the expedition.
Members of the 2026 Sandy Irvine Expedition conducting fieldwork in Svalbard.