Grace Cordsen, a polar activist and proficient climate communicator carried WINGS Flag #33 while voyaging from Svalbard to the North Pole as a researcher studying the visual record of the Arctic.  

Grace’s art historical research uses the visual and written historical records of Svalbard, the North Pole, and parts of Greenland as a way to discover and represent both the drastic environmental changes as well as overall shifts in perception these regions have experienced. By combining the evocative power of art with the empirical rigor of science, Grace helps communicate complex issues in a more relatable and impactful manner. Her work engages the viewer with the regions’ past and present explorations, climate change, and modern artistic endeavors—raising awareness about the area’s unique challenges, and fostering a deeper understanding of its significance in global environmental discussions.

Since graduating from Princeton University, Grace has worked extensively on expedition vessels in both poles as both a staff member and researcher. This past winter Grace was one of the youngest women to manage a camp on the Antarctic interior. This coming fall Grace will be attending Columbia University for a masters in Sustainability Management. While currently living in San Francisco, Grace is from New York and is defined by her adventurous spirit and contagious love of life which permeates into all that she does.