A traveling exhibition “The Story of Poles” was inaugurated at the Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai on 2nd November 2007 by Dr. Rasik Ravindra, Director, National Centre for Antarctic & Ocean Research, Goa.

North and South Poles are the extreme ends of our planet. Earth's axis passes through them. The geographic location of north pole is amid a clashing, grinding jumble of pack ice in the Arctic ocean, whereas the south pole is on solid land of Antarctic continent covered with thick sheets of glacial ice. Poles are the domains of extreme cold, harsh weather and frozen deserts. North and South poles alternately experience six months of sunlight and six months of darkness each year. Arctic and Antarctic circles at 66½0 north and south latitudes respectively are marked as Polar Regions. Arctic region experiences temperatures ranging between -35ºC and 10ºC. On the Antarctic continent, the climate is still more severe with temperature rarely rising above the freezing point. Such extremes make poles inhabitable for life. Yet, poles play a very crucial role in shaping and nourishing life on Earth.

The United Nations has decided to observe 2007-08 as the International Polar Year. Several nations have been sending their expeditions to Antarctic for scientific study. India also has set up a scientific base there. The Nobel Peace prize for 2007 and International Polar Year have brought the issues of global warming, ozone depletion and climate change on everyone's radar.

The Story of Poles exhibition designed and developed by National Council of Science Museums augments these worldwide efforts in creating awareness.