Lessons from the Edge of the World: An Evening with Sir Robert Swan at LPCUWC
What does it take to become the first person in history to walk to both the South and North Poles? What were the hardest moments along the way? What did Antarctica look like 30 years ago, and how can we build a more sustainable future in our daily lives?
These were among the questions explored during "An Evening with Robert Swan", organised by 2041 Hong Kong and co-hosted with UWC Graduates Organisation Hong Kong, on 6 October.
LPC had the honour of hosting Sir Robert Swan, OBE, FRGS, for a session with students, faculty, and the wider UWC alumni community on campus. 2041 Hong Kong co-founder Christie Lai (LPC Class of 2019) and LPC Principal Dr. Spencer Fowler welcomed Sir Robert to the College to kick off the evening.
During the session, Rob shared some of the toughest physical and psychological challenges of his Antarctic expeditions. He spoke about facing extreme weather conditions and how his eye colour permanently changed during his 70-day unassisted walk to the South Pole in 1986. Overcoming these trials required immense perseverance, patience, and trust. He urged the younger generation to embrace these values and lead by example.
“If you say you are going to do something, do it. If you want to inspire people, show and tell them. Whatever you are doing in life, check if it’s still relevant,” Rob emphasised, using his renewable energy initiatives as a prime example.
As the founder of 2041 Foundation, Rob remains committed to protecting Antarctica and driving environmental education worldwide. His mission directly inspired LPC alumni Christie Lai (Class of 2019) and Justin Yeung (Class of 2018) to co-found 2041 Hong Kong after meeting him on an Antarctic expedition.
When asked what small actions people can take in their daily lives, Rob suggested starting simply by understanding our own carbon footprint. He encouraged the audience to keep pushing forward despite setbacks and to maintain an optimistic outlook:
“People often say we can’t make change; we can. You can... And most importantly, always stay positive, because no one is inspired by negativity.”
Thank you, Sir Robert Swan, for such an inspiring evening!
