The Natural History Museum (NHM) in London is to launch its Ice Station Antarctica exhibition this May to coincide with the International Polar Year (IPY), the international research project that explores the polar regions.

The exhibit will use a combination of visual imagery, interactives and real Antarctic objects and will create a series of mini-environments for visitors to explore.

It will feature a cold room, penguin colonies, a virtual skidoo ride, ice core drilling and a mock-up of a base station.

NHM spokesperson Alex Gaffikin said: “Ice Station Antartica isn’t just an exhibition, it’s a series of challenges designed to see if our visitors have got what it takes to survive in Antartica.

“It also fulfils the aims of the IPY to attract, engage and develop a new generation of polar researchers, engineers and logistics experts and to boost awareness, interest and understanding in the purpose of polar research and monitoring.”

Ice Station Antarctica is being put together in partnership with the British Antarctic Survey.

The third IPY since its inception in 1882-83 will run from March 2007 to March 2009 and the NHM exhibit will last for the majority of that time, from May 2007 to April 2008, before it tours Europe. Details: www.nhm.ac.uk