Under Antarctica is an unprecedented expedition led by the 90° SUD association for the preservation of Antarctica and the understanding of the climatic future.
The goal is to map the ice of the Antarctic ice sheet, a true climate archive, in order to predict its contribution to sea-level rise and to support climate change modeling.
Indeed, a scientific mystery remains: did West Antarctica collapse completely 130,000 years ago, a time when temperatures on Earth were comparable to those we will experience in 2100? The answer to this question is crucial. If West Antarctica collapses, the volume of ice it contains could raise sea levels by 4 meters, thereby disrupting biodiversity and our coastlines, where 700 million people live.
To conduct this scientific investigation, glaciologist Dr. Heïdi Sevestre and explorer Matthieu Tordeur are joining forces to map the Antarctic subsoil. They will use two ground-penetrating radars on a crossing of the continent. The radars will also reveal subglacial lakes and rivers, the topography of the bedrock, as well as snow accumulation on the surface of the ice sheet.
To travel over 3,600 km, they will use an innovative and environmentally friendly mode of transport: kite-skiing.
The expedition will be carried out during the austral summer, from October 2025 to January 2026, for approximately 80 days. A documentary on this adventure and its results will be broadcast in 2026.
The donation from the Fondation Etrillard contributes to developing the expedition’s educational and pedagogical program with the Témoins Polaires association and its École des Pôles. This program aims to provide the keys to understanding the climate and the means to take action, through the wonder and scientific knowledge of the polar regions.
For three months, eight educational booklets will be shared free of charge with registrants. They will offer students from 8 years old a live tracking of the expedition. These digital notebooks, available in French and English, provide knowledge on the climate, history, geography, science, and the lives of the adventurers, and are punctuated with video conferences, images, sounds, and videos.
Since 2021, more than 50,000 young people have been made aware of the richness and fragility of polar environments through school booklets. The younger generations are thus taking over from the great explorers and scientists who have made it possible to better understand these dazzling environments. Under Antarctica and Témoins Polaires are aiming this time for 100,000 students worldwide.
Link to the presentation of the educational booklets and registration link.
Dispatch of booklet No. 1 on November 12, 2025.
Upon returning from the expedition, the explorers will offer school conferences in Switzerland in partnership with the Fondation Etrillard.
This expedition is under the high patronage of the President of the Republic and under the aegis of UNESCO.