MANY experts say that the Industrial Revolution really began in 1765, when James Watt went for a walk on Glasgow Green and had his eureka moment to develop the steam engine using a separate condenser.

His breakthrough changed the world, and so it is fitting that the world is coming to Glasgow for COP26, which will feature an exhibition called Polar Zero that opens at Glasgow Science Centre this weekend. The centrepieces of the exhibition are a cylindrical glass sculpture encasing Antarctic air from the year 1765 and an Antarctic ice core containing trapped air bubbles that reveal a unique record of our past climate.

The organisers say: “At a time of accelerating global warming, rapid melting of glaciers and rising sea levels, Polar Zero invites us to pause and reflect on humanity’s impact on our past, present and future climate. The exhibition theme is one of hope and optimism.”

Polar Zero is a collaboration between British Antarctic Survey (BAS), global engineering and consulting firm Arup and the Royal College of Art, and is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).

The Royal College of Art’s Wayne Binitie is an AHRC-funded PhD student and the artist behind Polar Zero. He says his work is inspired and informed by the urgent need to address the climate crisis.

Binitie said: “About five or six years ago I formed a unique relationship with BAS and Arup. Our collaboration involves artistic creativity, ice core science and advanced engineering. It’s my hope that people who experience these works will gain a better understanding of humanity’s impact on the natural environment and its climate systems.”

BAS glaciologist Dr Robert Mulvaney said: “Our ice core research reveals the human impact on our climate. This research collaboration with Wayne will, I hope, encourage people to think about the past, present and future. It has been a journey of discovery for artist, scientist and engineers, involving high levels of creativity.”