Featured Article Summary #276

Fridtjof Wedel-Jarlsberg Nansen (1861–1930) was a Norwegian polymath and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. He became famous as an explorer, leading the first crossing of Greenland’s interior in 1888 and later reaching a record northern latitude on his Fram expedition in the 1890s. Even after he stopped exploring, his methods and improvements in polar travel equipment influenced later expeditions in both the Arctic and Antarctic. Nansen also made major scientific contributions, studying animals early on and later advancing oceanography through many research voyages. He played an important political role in Norway’s independence, then spent the last part of his life working for the League of Nations and refugees, earning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1922. He introduced the “Nansen passport” for stateless people, and after his death an office was created to continue his refugee work. The Nansen family came from Denmark and held positions of public importance, including trade and government roles in Copenhagen and later in Norway. Fridtjof Nansen’s father, Baldur, was a lawyer and court reporter, and after marrying Adelaide Wedel-Jarlsberg they lived on the estate of Store Frøen near Christiania (Oslo). Nansen grew up outdoors, spending winters skiing and summers on fishing and hunting, with little academic drive but strong self-reliance and growing sporting talent. After Adelaide died in 1877, the family moved to Christiania, and Nansen went on to achieve major skating and skiing successes, including breaking a world record at 18. In 1880 Fridtjof Nansen passed his university entrance exam and started studying zoology at the Royal Frederick University. In 1882, encouraged by his professor Robert Collett, he joined a sea voyage to study Arctic wildlife, where he made scientific observations about sea ice and ocean currents and developed ideas about exploring Greenland. After returning, he left university study and worked for six years at the Bergen Museum, researching neuroanatomy and later publishing work that supported the neuron theory and became the basis for his doctoral thesis. Nansen gradually planned his Greenland expedition during his years in Bergen, starting in 1887 after his doctorate. He wanted a small team to cross the icecap from east to west as a one-way journey with no safe retreat, unlike earlier trips that turned back after traveling from Disko Bay. He kept the plan simple with a party of six and custom lightweight equipment, but faced poor press, no support from parliament, and instead relied on a Danish donation and student fundraising, eventually recruiting experienced skiers and outdoor travellers while leaving for the trip right after his doctoral defense exam. Nansen’s party was picked up by the sealer Jason on 3 June 1888 and sighted the Greenland coast a week later, but thick ice forced them to camp on the ice and launch their small boats only when they were near Sermilik Fjord. After struggling south and then rowing north along the coast, they reached Umivik Bay in early August and, as the season advanced, began their crossing over the inland ice toward Godthaab despite dangerous crevasses, storms, and freezing conditions. They completed the crossing in 49 days, reached Godthaab on 3 October, kept detailed scientific records, and stayed in Greenland until a ship returned in April 1889.