If you’re here, you probably know me, at least a little bit. I’m now a graduate student at the University of Oregon, Eugene in the Center for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (CEEB). Starting now (July 2008), I’m off again on a biological research trip to the Antarctic…this time to the Antarctic peninsula and Palmer Station aboard the research vessel / ice-breaker Laurence M. Gould.
I’ll be working with Dr. Art DeVries and Dr. Christina Cheng, professors at the University of Illinois with whom I worked throughout my undergraduate career. With them I was fortunate enough to visit the Antarctic twice before, spending nearly a year in total now at McMurdo Station. Others in our group this season are Kevin B., a graduate student at the University of Illinois advised by Art and Chris, and Grace T., a recent graduate of Harvard University. We’ll be gone approximately two months on this expedition, with about five weeks at Palmer station and three weeks in transit between Punta Arenas, Chile and Antarctica on the ship and out fishing once we arrive.
The point of all of this is to keep you updated with the current happenings as I see them when I see them..or shortly thereafter. I’ll try to introduce some of the science we do and why we do it, how we do it, and the difficutlies in conducting polar research. Be aware that communication from the ends of the earth can be troublesome, and ship-board internet is notoriously problematic, slow, and traffic limited. Nevertheless, when I get a chance to write about happenings and mis-happenings, or joy, stress, epiphanies, or wonderment, I will.
And one little sheepish caveat. I’m no writer, no journalist, never kept a journal, nor written a blog. This will be practice for me. stand by.
Certainly. Please. Post questions and comments.
paul c.
Punta Arenas, Chile
Paul, you look cute in orange…. That pancake ice is really neat. Is it always thin? Does it ever meet and turn into a sheet? The water is really clear because the catchment is small and nutrient poor. What the hell do the fish eat? Buh.
Paul… got the link from Chris, and thank you for the stories. I expect that these will be inspiring to more and more UI students in the year(s) to come.
Stay cool.
jc
Hi Jennifer,
Sorry for the delay. Perhaps you could consider donating to the Ann Bancroft Foundation.
annbancroftfoundation.org
Ann is a adventurous polar explorer and staunch advocate of education and exploration, especially for women and girls. I met her a few weeks ago when the University of Oregon honored her with an achievement award–she’s great! She is planning another skiing adventure to the south pole in 2010, and hoping to bring one woman from each continent to raise global awareness for her cause. I think donating to Ann’s foundation would fulfill your goal by using Antarctica as a way to connect with people everywhere.
Thanks for asking.
Best,
Paul