Stephen Scott-Fawcett is an expert on polar history, specializing in the life of Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton. He became a chartered surveyor in 1978 and then attended the University of Cambridge to read theology in 1981. After this, he embarked on a surveying career in East Anglia whilst, in parallel, developing a keen interest in the history of polar exploration in Antarctica. He leads small teams each year over the Himalayan passes of Nepal. In 2011, he commenced part-time PhD research at the Scott Polar Institute, University of Cambridge. In the United Kingdom, he is a freelance consultant surveyor.