For a century, harsh climates and unforgiving environments have never stopped generations of adventurers from heading to the North Pole and to the South Pole to explore these unknown lands, which are “like a book of history.” 
The "Exploring the Poles" special exhibition at NMMST invites visitors to follow in the footsteps of past explorers and modern scientists, returning to a snow-white world shaped by countless dreams and acts of courage. Starting with the wisdom of Indigenous peoples and the stories of great polar explorers, the exhibition dives into the completely different environmental features of the Arctic and Antarctic. Here, you will discover how scientists from Taiwan and across the globe brave extreme cold and isolation to understand how our planet works. Visitors will not only learn about the many faces of ice and uncover the secrets of the "Polar Ark"—the Svalbard Global Seed Vault—but also enjoy an up-close aurora experience, finding a light of hope in the darkness. 
However, these seemingly barren polar lands are in fact full of life, and they are currently facing the severe impacts of climate change. More than ice is melting; it is a polar countdown to ecological collapse. The disappearing glaciers are questions left by nature for us to answer, while the ecological tipping point is a red line reminding us to stop and reflect. Facing the future, as Dame Jane Goodall said: "Only if we understand, can we care. Only if we care, will we help. Only if we help, shall all be saved." Every act of attention and every change we make are vital forces in protecting our shared home. 

～Journey to the extreme, reflect on the present, and choose our shared future.

【Exhibition Information】 

Dates: June 5, 2026 – May 2, 2027 (Closed on Mondays, except during summer vacation and national holidays) 

Venue: Special Exhibition Gallery II, 3F, Main Exhibition Building, NMMST