Scientific Expedition Reports in Special Collections from 1826 to the 1960s

Introduction

Rich with photographs, colourful plates, scientific descriptions, anthropological and geographical observations, and general insights into expeditionary life, the Scientific Expedition Reports, housed in the University of Otago’s Special Collections, are a veritable mine of information. From the Arctic to the Antarctic, from Uganda to Patagonia, the earliest of the reports dates from D’Urville’s expedition in the Astrolabe from 1826 to 1829, published in 1832; the latest are from the University of Canterbury Snares Islands expeditions beginning in the 1960s. Men and women from New Zealand, Australia, Norway, France, Sweden, America, the United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, China, Egypt and many more countries besides, have travelled the world by land and by sea in the name of science and exploration and have documented the results in these scientific reports. Many of the scientific observations made and specimens taken are still being researched today and despite the treacherous conditions and ever present risks, most members of these expeditionary parties returned alive. The Scientific Expedition Reports in Special Collections are a testament to and a record of humankind’s insatiable desire for knowledge.

Please enjoy this exhibition.

Exhibition

Voyage de la corvette l'Astrolabe…pendant les années 1826-1827-1828-1829, sous le commandement de J. Dumont d'Urville. [Zoology, Vol. I]
Voyage de la corvette l'Astrolabe…Atlas
New Zealand, 1826-1827
‘The Snares Islands’ from Pacific Discovery. A Journal of Nature and Man in the Pacific World. Vol. XXIX, no. 5
‘The Flora of the Snares Islands, New Zealand’ from Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Botany. Vol. 3, no. 17
The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Erebus & Terror…during the years 1839 to 1843. Vol. 1
Sir James Clark Ross
The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Samarang ... during the years 1843-1846. Vol. 1
Captain Sir Edward Belcher
Reise der österreichischen Fregatte Novara.... [Zoology, Vol. II]
Travels of Hochstetter and Haast in New Zealand, 1858-1860
Travels of Hochstetter and Haast in New Zealand, 1858-1860
New Zealand: Its Physical Geography, Geology, and Natural History, with Special Reference to the Results of Government Expeditions in the Provinces of Auckland and Nelson
Illustrations of the Zoology of the Royal Indian Marine Survey Ship ‘Investigator’. Vol. 15
Report on the Work of the Horn Scientific Expedition to Central Australia. Vol. 2, Parts 3 and 4
William Austin Horn
The Danish ‘Ingolf’-Expedition. Vol. IIa
Report on the Collections of Natural History Made in the Antarctic Regions during the Voyage of the ‘Southern Cross’
To the South Polar Regions: Expedition of 1898-1900
Reports of the Princeton University Expeditions to Patagonia, 1896-1899. Zoology, Vol. III, 2
Reports of the Princeton University Expeditions to Patagonia, 1896-1899. Botany, Vol. VIII, 2
National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904. Vol. IV
Report of the Scientific Results of the Voyage of S.Y. ‘Scotia’ during the years 1902, 1903, and 1904. Vol. IV
British Antarctic (‘Terra Nova’) Expedition, 1910. Zoology, Vol. I
The Great White South or With Scott in the Antarctic
Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-14. Scientific Reports. Series A, Vol. I
Expédition Antarctique Française, (1903-05), [Vol. 5]
Charcot of the Antarctic
Deuxième Expédition Antarctique Franc̜aise (1908-1910). [Vol. 4]
Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Schwedischen Südpolar-Expedition 1901-1903. [Zoology, Vol. 5]
Ordeal by Ice: Ships of the Antarctic
Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Schwedischen Südpolar-Expedition 1901-1903. [Zoology, Vol. 6]
The Depths of the Ocean: A General Account of the Modern Science of Oceanography Based Largely on the Scientific Researches of the Norwegian Steamer <em>Michael Sars</em> in the North Atlantic
The Depths of the Ocean: A General Account of the Modern Science of Oceanography Based Largely on the Scientific Researches of the Norwegian Steamer <em>Michael Sars</em> in the North Atlantic
Report on the Scientific Results of the ‘Michael Sars’ North Atlantic Deep-Sea Expedition, 1910. Vol. IV
Report of the Canadian Arctic Expedition, 1913-18. Vol. XII
Diamond Jenness
Reports on the Scientific Expedition to the North-Western Provinces of China under the Leadership of Dr Sven Hedin. Vol. VIII
The John Murray Expedition, 1933-34. Scientific Reports. Vol. I
The John Murray Expedition, 1933-34. Scientific Reports. Vol. I
Ruwenzori Expedition, 1934-35. Vol. III
B. A. N. Z. Antarctic Research Expedition, 1929-1931…Reports – Series A. Vol. III
The Geographical Journal, Vol. LXXX
Sir Douglas Mawson Anniversary Volume: Contributions to Geology in Honour of Professor Sir Douglas Mawson's 70th Birthday Anniversary Presented by Colleagues, Friends, and Pupils
‘Sociology of Tristan da Cunha’ from Results of the Norwegian Scientific Expedition to Tristan da Cunha, 1937-1938. No. 13
‘Birds of Tristan da Cunha’ from Results of the Norwegian Scientific Expedition to Tristan da Cunha, 1937-1938. No. 20
Charles Fleming’s Cape Expedition Diary: Auckland Islands, 1942-43
‘Elephant Seals of Campbell Island’ from Cape Expedition, Scientific Results of the New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Expedition, 1941-45. No. 6
Reports of the Swedish Deep-Sea Expedition, 1947-1948. Vol. IV. [Part II]
Reports of the Swedish Deep-Sea Expedition, 1947-1948. Vol. IV. [Part I]
Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land. Vol. 4
Hellbent for the Pole: An insider’s account of the ‘race to the South Pole’ 1957-58
‘Synopsis of Results’ from Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1955-1958. Scientific Reports. No. 1
Line transect survey for southern right whales, Auckland Islands
‘Distribution of southern right whales on the Auckland Islands calving grounds’ from New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, Vol. 46, no. 3
'Breeding status affects fine-scale habitat selection of southern right whales on their wintering grounds' from Journal of Biogeography
Research team attempting to take a photo-identification of a southern right whale, Auckland Islands
Marine Science: An Ocean of Opportunities
Oceanography: Understanding the Sea
Marine Science at the University of Otago: Our Place in the World – is underwater
Colony of Snares crested penguins (Eudyptes robustus), Snares Islands
‘Seabirds and marine mammals redistribute bioavailable iron in the Southern Ocean’ from Marine Ecology Progress Series, Vol. 510
'Contrast in the importance of arrow squid as prey of male New Zealand sea lions and New Zealand fur seals at The Snares, subantarctic New Zealand' from  Marine Biology
Chris Lalas sorting seal faeces and vomit samples, Snares Islands
Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger…Zoology. Vol. II
Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger…Narrative. Vol. I. First Part
Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger…Zoology. Vol. V
Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger…Narrative. Vol. 1. First Part
Right Whale
Reise der österreichischen Fregatte Novara.... [Zoology, Vol. IIa]
British Antarctic Expedition 1907-9…Reports on the Scientific Investigations. Vol. I. Geology
Reports of the Princeton University Expeditions to Patagonia, 1896-1899. Zoology, Vol. III
Report on the Zoological Collections made in the Indo-Pacific Ocean during the Voyage of H.M.S. ‘Alert’ 1881-82
Scientific Results of the Trawling Expedition of H.M.C.S. ‘Thetis’. Vol. II
The Norwegian North-Atlantic Expedition, 1876-1878. Zoology
The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Samarang ... during the years 1843-1846. Vol. 2
Southern royal albatross (<em>Diomedea epomophora</em>)
William Noel  Benson