A group of Australian scientists retracing Sir Douglas Mawson's daring Antarctic expedition will bring the public along on the journey through live internet chats and social media.
The six-week journey, led by Professor Chris Turney and Dr Chris Fogwill of the University of NSW, will begin its first leg on Wednesday.
The team of 48, including members of the public, on the privately funded trip will traverse the route Mawson explored during the last leg of his 1911-1914 expedition.
The Australasian Antarctic Expedition will repeat some of the observations Mawson's expedition made, including on ocean, wildlife, geology and weather.
Savouring one final restaurant dinner before he leaves New Zealand on Wednesday, Prof Turney said the group wanted to see how much had changed in Antarctica over the past 100 years.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"We know some things have happened but we don't know by what scale or magnitude,' he told AAP.
Prof Turney said another aim was to engage the public in science.
Scientists against the backdrop of "penguins and seals", he says, will use video chat portal Google Hangout to have conversations with members of the public and will also post updates on You Tube and Twitter.
The use of new satellite technologies also mimics Mawson's use of then-modern communications to send information from the field back home.
However, rather than the luxury of near-instance communication which the 2013 expedition has, Mawson relied on morse code.
Prof Turney said a team would also lead their way across the sea ice to reach Mawson's Hut.
The exploration has been two years in the making.
The first leg of the journey will return to New Zealand on December 7 before the second leg leaves the next day.
