LEWISTON — Robert Begin was the presenter for November’s Food for Thought session at the University of Southern Maine Lewiston-Auburn College.

His presentation, “Scott, Amundsen, and Shackleton — The Race for the Pole,” discussed the numerous stories of the South Pole expeditions of Robert Falcon Scott, Roald Amundsen and Ernest Shackleton.

Thousands of applicants responded to a classified ad placed by Shackleton that read: “Men wanted for hazard journey, small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful, honor and recognition in case of success.”

Begin added many tales of the tenacious individuals, dogs and horses who made these trips and the many hardships they all faced.

Amundsen, of Norway, made it to the South Pole first, but Scott and Shackleton didn’t stop trying.

The next presentation is on Friday, Dec. 9, with David Cheever, Maine State archivist.