THIN ICE 2026
04 August 2026 - 04 August 2026
4:30–6:00 pm
Region(s): Wellington
Type(s): experiences, presentations
THIN ICE was filmed more than 15 years ago. Since that time, atmospheric CO2 levels and global temperatures have risen dramatically, threatening to melt polar ice sheets, with very real consequences for society.
In this free event, join noted raconteur Te Radar and Film Director Simon Lamb for a showcase of clips from the film alongside current assessments of the evidence from those same scientists featured in the original – now internationally recognised experts. We’ll also hear from policy and governance experts about potential solutions.
The event has been instigated by Emeritus Professor Peter Barrett HonFGS NZAM FRSNZ, Executive Producer of the film. Peter and colleagues pioneered multi-national projects between 1973 and 1999, using sea ice as a platform to drill core samples from the strata beneath to help reconstruct Antarctic ice-sheet history over its 34 million years of existence. He was the Founding Director of the Antarctic Research Centre.
There will also be be a range of other speakers.
This event is supported by the Antarctic Research Centre of Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington, the New Zealand Antarctic Society, and the Royal Society Te Apārangi.
Doors will open at 4:00 pm, with talks from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm, and refreshments served until 7:30 pm.
This event will be recorded for later release. Livestream is not available.
Location: Royal Society Te Aparangi, 11 Turnbull Street, Thorndon, Wellington
For more information and to register: https://events.humanitix.com/thin-ice-2026.
This event was initially scheduled to take place on 21 April but was postponed due to extreme weather and a state of emergency in Wellington.
Related content
The Science Learning Hub features a series of articles and activities developed to accompany the Thin Ice film.
The article Thin Ice in the classroom introduces the film Thin Ice – The Inside Story of Climate Science, which looks at our planet’s changing climate, and suggests a range of Science Learning Hub resources designed to support its use in the classroom.
Climate change, science and controversy explores some famous cases in history in which science thinking clashed with wider societal thinking. Examples include Darwin’s theory of evolution and the tobacco industry’s creation of doubt regarding the health risks associated with smoking.
Climate action looks at how we are working for change at global, national, personal and public levels.
Adventure and innovation on the ice profiles two of the scientists featured in Thin Ice. It’s real nature of science material – the thrill of discovery combined with the opportunity to respond to societal needs.
Carbon dioxide and climate and Clues to the past both explore how evidence from long ago provides a picture of how Earth’s climate is changing – and how the data clearly shows that anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are causing the climate to change. Climate models explains how scientists use observational data from the past to check the accuracy of complex global climate models.
For more resources, browse the wide range of content we have under out Antarctic and Climate change topics.
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