The Scott Polar Research Institute is the oldest international centre for polar research within a university and is acknowledged as the world's premier polar information centre. It combines active research with world-renowned library, museum, archival and photographic collections, covering all aspects of the Arctic and Antarctic, including polar history, science and technology, economics and politics, law, medicine, tourism, humanities and art.

The Institute has research groups investigating a range of issues in both the environmental sciences and social sciences of relevance to the polar regions:

• Glaciology and Climate Change Group
• Glacimarine Environments Group
• Polar Landscape and Remote Sensing Group
• Polar Social Science and Humanities Group

In addition, the Institute is part of the NERC Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling.