Iceworld

S5 Ep10: Living and working in the polar desert

British Antarctic Survey — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 14:51:02 +0000

When you hear the word 'desert,' you might picture the sun beating down on an endless expanse of sand. But, in reality, the largest desert on Earth isn't hot and sandy at all… it's Antarctica.

Now imagine being dropped into that desert of snow and calling it home for two and a half months.

In this episode of Iceworld, Nadia is joined by Zelna Weich and Charlotte Phillips, two early-career researchers who have just returned from the Antarctic deep field. They discuss what life is like when -9°C counts as a ‘balmy’ day, showers simply aren't an option, and suddenly you’re spending every day with 12 colleagues. From dancing through night shifts to stay warm to digging three metres into the snow just to uncover buried equipment, it’s a life stripped back to the bare essentials - worlds away from the lives they have now returned to.

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Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community.

A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier.

Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

S5 Ep9: Fixing aircraft in Antarctica

British Antarctic Survey — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 16:40:04 +0000

What does it take to keep aircraft flying at the bottom of the world?

In this episode of Iceworld, Nadia is joined by Eli Arseneault and Jeremie Amurao, two aircraft engineers from Rocky Mountain Aircraft who are based at the British Antarctic Survey's Rothera Research Station. Together, they discuss the unique challenges of maintaining Twin Otter aircraft in one of the most demanding environments on Earth - from ski landings on sastrugi to troubleshooting snags in freezing temperatures.

This is Eli's third Antarctic season, and Jeremie's first. They share what it's like to ferry a Twin Otter all the way from Calgary to Antarctica, why there's no such thing as a typical day in the Rothera hangar and how witnessing glacial retreat first-hand has changed their perspective on climate change.

Tune in to hear about the camaraderie, the challenges, and why they believe the BAS Twin Otters are the finest in the world.

S5 Ep8: Christmas in Antarctica

British Antarctic Survey — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 10:31:49 +0000

What could be more festive than a white Christmas at the bottom of the world?

In this special Christmas episode of ICEWORLD, Nadia is joined by two guests from Halley, Station Doctor Dani Hawarden and Station Leader Dan McKenzie. Together, they discuss what makes an Antarctic Christmas unique, from the elaborate homemade Secret Santa gifts, to the 7km Christmas morning run (that particular tradition can definitely stay in Antarctica!).

For Dan, this marks his fifth Christmas in Antarctica, spent across three different research stations whereas for Dani, it’s her first Antarctic Christmas! Tune in to discover how the team at Halley create their own festive traditions at the bottom of the world.

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Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community.

A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier.

Produced in partnership with Boffin Media; cover photo by Maciej Pietowski.

S5 Ep7: What to wear in Antarctica

British Antarctic Survey — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 16:00:00 +0000

Emma Pearce is a geophysicist… or a glaciologist - depending on who you speak to. What remains constant, however, is her dedication to understanding ice in Antarctica - and you can't do that without the right clothing!

So, what do you wear to work when your office is on an Antarctic ice shelf? Emma discovered the answer involves far more than a trip to Primark. From base layers to extreme cold weather boots, preparing for Antarctic deployment means learning an entirely new approach to staying warm. Host Nadia Frontier speaks with Emma about the thorough preparation that goes into simply getting dressed when working in Antarctica.

Emma also discusses her work on the RIFT-TIP project, where she spent six weeks living in a camp to study the Halloween Crack - a major fracture on the Brunt Ice Shelf - to understand how ice shelves break apart and what that means for our changing climate. When she's not studying ice cracks? She's crocheting pigeons of course!

This episode explores what it takes to dress for Antarctica, Emma’s journey to working at British Antarctic Survey, and what it's like to study the constantly evolving cracks on the Brunt Ice Shelf.

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Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community.

A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier.

Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

S5 Ep6: Packing for Antarctica - packing tips from an experienced Antarctican, with Tom Davis-Merry and Ed Luke

British Antarctic Survey — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 15:30:00 +0000

A bath mat, dark chocolate, photos and less books than you think.

Tom Davis-Merry is about to head to Rothera Research Station in Antarctica to be a wintering Field Guide. We take a peek inside his suitcase as he prepares for the adventure ahead.

Ed Luke was a previous wintering Field Guide at Rothera. He joins Tom and Nadia to share his tips for how to pack for life on the ice. He talks practical items, but also the the little luxuries and personal touches that make Antarctica feel like a home.

Produced in partnership with Boffin Media; cover photo by Ed Luke.

S5 Ep5: Training for Antarctica - secrets of the pre-deployment programme, with Michaela Boak

British Antarctic Survey — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 09:37:10 +0000

So, you're going to Antarctica. But what skills and training do you need to live and work there? That's the question that faces every person who is offered a job with British Antarctic Survey to work South - and there's a long to-do list, including two weeks of Pre-Deployment Training (PDT) at BAS HQ in Cambridge. During PDT, future-Antarcticans learn everything from polar hygiene to chemical safety and firefighting, as well as meeting the people they’ll be living with on station. Think "first day of school" nerves!
In this episode, host Nadia Frontier meets Michaela Boak, Deployment Support Coordinator. They discuss how to prepare for deployment to Antarctica (including the importance of the ceilidh social), the support available during deployment, and how Michaela’s own experience South shaped her perspective on training the UK's Antarctic team.
What are the challenges of preparing to work in such an extreme environment? How do the experts plan training that will keep everyone safe? And what training does it take to become an Antarctican?
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Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community.
A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

S5 Ep4: Land of the rising sun - life at a Svalbard research station, with Iain Rudkin and Henry Burgess

British Antarctic Survey — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Journey to the top of the world as Iceworld ventures into the Arctic for the first time, exploring the UK's only Arctic research station at Ny-Ålesund in Svalbard. Located at 78° north, this unique international research village brings together ten countries in one of the world's most rapidly changing environments. From retreating glaciers to beluga whales passing by the station dock, Ny-Ålesund offers a front-row seat to climate change in action.
Host Nadia Frontier speaks with Iain Rudkin, Arctic Operations Manager currently stationed in Svalbard, and Henry Burgess, Head of NERC's Arctic Office, calling in from Cambridge. They discuss the dramatic seasonal contrasts from temperate summers to -30°C winters, the challenges of managing a small but impactful research station, and the powerful storytelling opportunities when politicians witness first-hand the open waters where solid ice once stretched across the fjord.
This episode reveals how Svalbard serves as both a window into our changing planet and a testament to international scientific cooperation at the cutting edge of climate research.
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Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community.
A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

S5 Ep3: Keeping Halley Research Station online, with Dominic Jaques

British Antarctic Survey — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:46:52 +0000

Dominic Jaques' job is like being a remote-control engineer for one of the most isolated places on Earth! As a computer engineer at Halley VI Research Station on Antarctica's Brunt Ice Shelf, Dom has to be ready to look after the systems and science at Halley when it's staffed in summer, and when the station is empty and automated in Antarctic Winter.
Dom talks to host Nadia Frontier about his six-year Antarctic career, from the technical challenges of keeping an automated research station running 9,000 miles away, to the more unexpected parts of his job - like stepping in as head chef during the Covid season and building his own private igloo that became a legendary invite-only tea spot. From debugging micro-turbine software that fails in extreme cold, to learning how to make bread that actually fits in the toasters, this is a job that demands both serious technical expertise and serious creativity in problem-solving.
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Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community.
A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media. Episode cover by
Maciej Piętowski.

S5 Ep2: Midwinter nights and southern lights: Antarctic celebrations with Eloise Saville, David Reid, and Charlotte Rayner

British Antarctic Survey — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 08:00:00 +0000

As the darkest day approaches in Antarctica, Winterers at three of the UK's research stations are preparing for Midwinter's Day celebrations. From the crafting of elaborate gifts, to now-traditional screenings of The Thing, they compare traditions and plans the teams have in the works.
Joining this cross-Antarctic conference call are Carpenter Eloise Saville at Rothera Research Station, Electrical Technician David Reid at King Edward Point, and Station Leader Charlotte Rayner at Bird Island. From local penguin and seal sightings, to Eloise's new and unexpected passion for the gym, this chat is a memorable insight into life across three different stations at Antarctic Midwinter.
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Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community.
A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

S5 Ep1: Rothera at 50 - with Rod Arnold, Alysa Fisher, Matt Hughes and Aurelia Reichardt

British Antarctic Survey — Sun, 08 Jun 2025 23:05:00 +0000

As the UK's largest Antarctic base, Rothera Research Station, celebrates its 50th birthday, host Nadia Frontier assembles a portrait of Rothera past and present. This episode features four fascinating perspectives on heritage, community and the importance of change.
Alysa Fisher offers an archivist's account of the station's early years - from the wartime beginnings of the UK's Antarctic presence, to the highly popular dogs who used to live at the station, as well as what bits of history can be found embedded into modern station life.
Outgoing Head of the BAS Air Unit, Rod Arnold, talks about how the people and the place have evolved across his 26 years of service; current Tower Supervisor Matt Hughes chats about the aircraft (and whales) he's seen from the new Operations Tower; and Station Leader Aurelia Reichardt talks science operations, leadership, and what it takes to keep a community going in this frozen wilderness.
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Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community.
A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media. Cover photo by Matt Hughes.

S4 Ep12: Travelling in the Tractor Train Traverse, with Nick Withey and Rory Fleet

British Antarctic Survey — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Meet the ice road truckers of Antarctica: the Tractor Train Traverse team, who drive supplies and fuel huge distances across the frozen wilderness to help scientists work in the deep field. With no garage in sight - and, in fact, nothing much else - this hardy and skilled team have to maintain the vehicles as they travel, living and working together to traverse the Antarctic interior.
Nadia talks to Nick Withey, Traverse Vehicle Engineering Manager, and mechanic and first time traverser Rory Fleet - both recently back in the UK after a busy season in Antarctica. Nick and Rory talk about navigation, safety and scouting, fixing vehicles in the snow, and the weird experience of motion sickness in a whiteout. This long, slow road trip could be the closest experience you can get on Earth to traversing another planet.
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Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community.
A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

S4 Ep11: Doctors of Antarctica, with Dr Nisha Mistry and Dr Rebecca Boys

British Antarctic Survey — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 05:30:00 +0000

For medics dreaming of an adventure, there's nothing quite like being deployed for a season to Antarctica. The role of doctor on an Antarctic research station or research ship is a huge responsibility - in an emergency, external help could be days or weeks away.
In this episode, Nadia speaks to Dr Nisha Mistry, who is currently working as the doctor on the polar ship RRS Sir David Attenborough, and Dr Rebecca Boys, was one of the doctors at Rothera Research Station in 2022. They talk about what it takes to prepare for deployment, learning to tackle dentistry for the first time, and the unique and trusted role that doctors have looking after communities in one of the most extreme environments on Earth.
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Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community.
A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

S4 Ep10: Moss, mites, bacteria and algae: looking for the smallest life in Antarctica

British Antarctic Survey — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 15:17:40 +0000

From algae and moss, to mites and bacteria, Antarctica is teaming with life - a lot of it is just really small. Nadia chats to four Dutch researchers from the Gerritz Laboratory at Rothera Research Station, each looking for answers about Antarctica's smallest terrestrial and marine life.
Mareike Bach talks about her fascinating search for sea ice algae, drilling into pancake ice from a cradle suspended from a ship. Dr Swan Sow maps microbial life in the Southern Ocean to understand how climate change impacts nutrient cycles. Dr Stef Bokhorst explores the relationship between Antarctic plants and invertebrates, and Seringe Huisman uses satellite imagery to map mosses and lichens.
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Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community.
A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media. Cover photo by Stef Bokhorst.

S4: Women at the poles - with Jane Francis, Jo Johnson, Katy Rumm, Vicky Auld, Laura Taylor, and Kat Turner

British Antarctic Survey — Sat, 08 Mar 2025 09:00:00 +0000

In this special International Women’s Day episode, host Nadia Frontier takes a look back at some of her most memorable conversations with women at the British Antarctic Survey. This episode celebrates the incredible women pushing boundaries, breaking stereotypes, and shaping the future of science in one of the world’s most extreme environments.
Professor Dame Jane Francis reflects on her remarkable journey from early fieldwork in Antarctica to becoming the Director of BAS. Geologist Dr Jo Johnson shares her experiences working in some of the most remote and challenging places on Earth, all while balancing the demands of family life. Chef Katy Rumm talks about her adventurous leap from fine dining to cooking in Antarctica’s remote kitchens, turning limited ingredients into incredible meals. Pilot Vicky Auld opens up about her unexpected path to flying the BAS Twin Otters and the power of seizing opportunities when they come your way. Finally, Nadia revisits her conversation with young researchers Laura Taylor and Kat Turner, who are making their mark on the BIOPOLE cruise, helping to advance climate science in the Southern Ocean.
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Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community.
A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media. Cover photo of Katie Wells by John Dickens.

S4 Ep9: A carnival of polar animals, with Katie Wells

British Antarctic Survey — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Katie Wells' job is like walking into a nature documentary! As a marine biologist at King Edward Point Research Station on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, Katie's job is to monitor the abundant carnival of animals that call this island and the surrounding ocean home.
Katie talks to Nadia about her experiences of the changing seasons and sights during the first year of her two-year deployment to South Georgia. From hikes across the island to monitor seabirds, to following the lives of fur seal pups outside her window, to counting hundreds of humpback whales at sea in a few days - this is a job for a real animal lover.
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Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community.
A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media. Cover photo of Katie Wells by John Dickens.

S4 Ep8: Drilling into the ice rift - with the RiPIce expedition to the Larsen C Ice Shelf

British Antarctic Survey — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 11:32:39 +0000

Every iceberg starts life attached to an ice shelf - until a crack travels deep through the ice and it breaks away. Predicting the way ice shelves will crack is still a major uncertainty in climate models. Cue an epic fieldwork project to the Larsen C Ice Shelf - featuring 'suture ice', hot water drilling, and some clever use of fibre optic cables.
What's it like to camp out in the middle of the icy wilderness? How do you deal with dietary requirements when you're eating field rations? What's it like to abseil into an ice shelf? When does the toilet tent start presenting logistical problems? And what, exactly, is a drilling 'blubber'?
Nadia Frontier and Matt Hughes chat to the RiPIce team (Rift Propagation for Ice Sheet Models) about their fieldwork - Katie Miles from Aberystwyth University, Sarah Thompson from University of Tasmania representing the Australian Antarctic Programme, and Adrian Luckman from Swansea University.
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Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community.
A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media. Photography by Sam Hunt.

S4 Ep7: Carbon cycling, biogeochemistry, and cruising on RRS Sir David Attenborough - with Emily Rowlands, Laura Taylor & Kat Turner

British Antarctic Survey — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 11:15:00 +0000

Ever wondered what it’s like to do science on a ship travelling through Antarctica's Southern Ocean? In this episode, host Nadia Frontier is joined by early-career scientists Emily Rowlands, Laura Taylor, and Kat Turner, who are gearing up for the next BIOPOLE scientific mission on the RRS Sir David Attenborough. From getting used to life on board, to being put in charge of managing important ocean sampling, they chat about the excitement and challenges of working on polar science at sea.
Together, Emily, Laura and Kat explain the significance of the BIOPOLE project - and the connections between Antarctica's ecosystems, nutrients, ice, and the major role that the ocean plays in absorbing carbon from Earth's atmosphere. Plus, Kat shares her experiences capturing sounds of the Antarctic for The Seventh Continent, a unique music project that brings an epic journey life.
The Seventh Continent (the latest album from the Sounds of Space Project) is available on all major streaming platforms, and for free on Bandcamp: https://soundsofspaceproject.bandcamp.com/album/the-seventh-continent
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Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community.
A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media. Cover photo of Kat Turner by Elliot Johnston.

S4 Ep6: Uncovering the secrets of clouds, with Floortje Van Den Heuvel

British Antarctic Survey — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 11:13:20 +0000

Where better to study clouds than from a plane? Host Nadia Frontier speaks to British Antarctic Survey cloud physicist Floortje Van Den Heuvel about her fieldwork scouting the skies of Antarctica for cloud forming particles. The clouds over Antarctica aren't well represented in climate models, and Floor is on a mission to change that!
Floor fell in love with the polar regions after working in the Arctic during her PhD, and has never looked back. She chats about the Southern Ocean Clouds project, her quality time spent in BAS Twin Otter aircraft 'Ice Cold Katy', and getting to see ice crystals form inside clouds from the sky.
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Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community.
A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

S4: Life after Antarctica: post-deployment with Dr Bav Sasi, Jerry Gillham and Kirsten Shaw

British Antarctic Survey — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Adapting to life after Antarctica can be a strange (and sometimes difficult) transition. Whether it's adjusting back to the daily hustle of home life after being in a remote community, or coming down from the emotional highs and lows of life in the wildest environment on Earth, returning to normal can be a challenge.
In this episode, host Nadia Frontier speaks with Dr Bav Sasi, a former medic at Rothera Research Station, about his research into the psychological and emotional effects of returning from Antarctic deployments. Also joining the conversation are Station Leader Jerry Gillham, and Antarctic Postal Logistics founder Kirsten Shaw. Together, they share their personal experiences of moving between life on the frozen continent and the 'normal' world, plus their top tips for managing the transition - whether you’re returning from an extreme experience, or supporting someone who is.
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Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community.
A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

S4 Ep5: Penguin passion at the poles with Derren Fox and Peter Fretwell

British Antarctic Survey — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 06:00:00 +0000

Are you a professional in penguin bum lifting? Derren Fox’s love for penguins began long before he made the trek to the icy sub-Antarctic island of Signy, where he works as a Zoological Assistant. In this episode, Derren chats to Nadia from Signy Research Station, where he spends his days getting up close and personal with Adélie penguins. He’s joined by Peter Fretwell, a satellite-wielding penguin expert who studies emperor penguins across the vast, frozen continent.
Together, they share some of the more interesting ways they weigh and monitor the health of these iconic, charming, and stubborn birds - and spoiler: it involves a lot of careful penguin wrangling. They also discuss the serious threats facing emperor penguins from climate change. From dodging the occasional disgruntled penguin, to the iconic place these flightless birds have in Antarctica’s ecosystem, this episode is a fun, eye-opening look at the challenges and joys of studying penguins in the wild.
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Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community.
A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

S4 Ep4: Scouting for shags and skuas with Paul Whitelaw and Aurelia Reichardt

British Antarctic Survey — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 12:10:58 +0000

Paul Whitelaw started dreaming of a job in Antarctica when a BAS marine biologist visited as a lecturer during his degree. Only a few years later, Nadia speaks to Paul while he is monitoring seabirds at Rothera Research Station in Antarctica as part of his PhD.
From dodging dive-bombing skuas to tracking hatching egg numbers, Paul's work includes monitoring the health of the substantial seabird populations in Antarctica. With 10% of the world's population of skua in the same bay as Rothera, Paul is able to use the changing fate of the birds there as an indicator for the health of the marine ecosystem as a whole. Paul is joined in the interview by Aurelia Reichardt, Station Leader, who has also been involved in the long term monitoring of skua populations at Rothera.
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Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community.
A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.
Cover photo of Paul by Patrick Griffin.

S4 Ep3: The operation to survey sea ice - from satellites, skies and seas

British Antarctic Survey — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Flying low over ice in a timed dance with satellites. Digging 52m of ice cores out on the frozen sea. This is a team tackling Antarctica's sea ice question from every angle!
In this group interview, teams from the DEFIANT* and CRYOVEX* projects talk about their epic campaign to 'ground-truth' the data collected from two important satellites that monitor Antarctic sea ice - ESA's CryoSat-2 and NASA's ICESat-2. This calibration work makes sure we know more about how the thickness of Antarctica's sea ice - helping us predict how climate changes will affect ocean circulation and ecology.
Nadia Frontier is joined by guest host Matt Hughes, and members of the project team Andy Shepherd, Inès Otosaka, Sebastian Simonsen, Isobel Lawrence and Gaëlle Veyssière, and BAS' Head of Airborne Survey Technology, Carl Robinson.
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*Acronym Busting:

ESA - the European Space Agency
NASA - the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
DEFIANT - Drivers and Effects of Fluctuations in sea Ice in the ANTarctic
CRYOVEX - CRYOsat Validation EXperiment
CryoSat-2 - it's not an acronym, 'cryo' just means ice
ICESat-2 - Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite
Dash-7 - also not an acronym, it's the nickname of the de Havilland Canada DHC-7 aircraft

S4 Ep2: Evolving in the cold with Melody Clark and Simon Morley

British Antarctic Survey — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Who's watching out for the creatures at the bottom of the Southern Ocean? Geneticist Professor Melody Clark and ecophysiologist Dr Simon Morley talk about their decades of work understanding the animals who have evolved to survive in the world's coldest waters.
From antifreeze fish to nail-varnish-wearing limpets, and from the gut microbiome of sea cucumbers to anti-microbial resistance, Melody takes us on a whistle stop tour of some of the main characters she's been studying in Antarctica. Meanwhile, Simon talks about his journey into studying the marine life around the frozen continent - and what the effect of warming will be on these creatures. He talks about the climate, optimism, and what you can do as an individual to make change.
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Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community.
A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

S4 Ep1: Piloting flights from Canada to Antarctica, with Vicky Auld and Olly Smith

British Antarctic Survey — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 07:00:00 +0000

The annual migration to the frozen continent begins! Host Nadia Frontier speaks to British Antarctic Survey pilots Vicky Auld and Olly Smith just before they begin ferrying aircraft down the spine of the Americas - from Canada to Punta Arenas on the tip of Chile, then on to Antarctica.
From views of the Andes to the first glimpse of white mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula, Vicky and Olly talk through the epic journey and the big to do list on their arrival. They chat about the years they both had pushing for piloting roles at BAS, working towards meeting the high qualification and experience requirements for the Air Unit.
How do you decide the priority list of ferrying people into Antarctica? What are 'freshies'? And what happens to magnetic navigation instruments at the South Pole?
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Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community.
A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

S3 Ep14: The Life Antarctic, with marine biologist Nadia Frontier

British Antarctic Survey — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Sometimes you ease yourself into a new job - and sometimes you move straight to Antarctica for two winters.

In the final episode of series 3, host Nadia Frontier takes a turn in the hot seat, opening up about her 'double winter' living at Rothera Research Station.

Interviewed at King Edward Point by Louis Day (meet him in series 3, episode 1).

S3 Ep13: Ash Shinn is looking after your Antarctic research station

British Antarctic Survey — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 07:24:00 +0000

Do you have to get past hundreds of fur seals to get to work? Ash Shinn does - but there's no fresh water, heating or toilets at Antarctic research stations without him.
Ash apparently can't get enough of working in Antarctica. He's done a real tour of Antarctic Stations almost continuously since 2021 - he worked at BAS a through the winter at Rothera Research Station as a Mechanical Maintenance Technician, before going to New Zealand owned Scott Base, where temperatures plunged to -40°C. Host Nadia Frontier interviews him on their new deployment overwinter at the comparatively warm and green BAS King Edward Point station in South Georgia.
Nadia and Ash chat about what it's like to have worked at all these different stations, the ins and outs of Ash's job, and taking the time to appreciate the scenery when Antarctica starts to feel ordinary. What keeps Ash coming back to Antarctica season after season? What's it like looking after a remote station that's running mostly on hydro-electricity? And what, exactly, is a Reverse Osmosis Plant?
ICEWORLD is hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier, and produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

S3 Ep12: Yes, diving in Antarctica is COLD - with Jack Gordon and Mike Lindsell

British Antarctic Survey — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 07:30:00 +0000

Have you ever wondered what it's like to go diving in the freezing ocean around Antarctica? Meet Jack Gordon and Mike Lindsell, Field Dive Officers at Rothera Research Station, who are no strangers to braving immersion down to -1.8°C during winter. Their job is to look after the safety of marine scientists as they study life deep in Antarctic waters.
In this episode, host Nadia Frontier chats to Jack about his adventures during his 7th season South - from the highs of spotting local penguins, to evacuating a dive in sudden changing conditions. Later in the show, Nadia chats to experienced commercial diver Mike about his first winter in Antarctica, after a number of years auditing and training divers for British Antarctic Survey.
Today's Antarctic lingo:

'Dingle Day' - a beautiful, sunny and clear day
'Winter trip' - as part of wintering at Rothera, the team can go on short exploratory expeditions.
'Winter gift' - winterers at Rothera learn and deploy their craft skills to make each other gifts to mark Midwinter's Day!

Iceworld is presented by marine biologist Nadia Frontier, and produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

S3 Ep11: Fixing Skidoos in Antarctica with Matthew McPherson

British Antarctic Survey — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 16:41:13 +0000

Vehicle mechanic Matthew McPherson chats to Nadia Frontier about fixing skidoos, his love for building snow tunnels and skiing. It's no surprise that Matthew's draw to Antarctica started with his fascination of snow.
This episode was recorded live in the Rothera garage, a location where plant is maintained and specialists parts are machined on a metal lathe.
Cover photograph of plant operator Angus and Vehicle Mechanic Matthew McPherson snow clearing the runway by Sam Hunt. This episode is produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

S3: Happy Midwinter, from King Edward Point Research Station

British Antarctic Survey — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the longest night of the dark Antarctic winter - and the biggest celebration in the polar calendar. Coming to you (almost) live from King Edward Point (KEP) Research Station on the sub-Antarctic Island of South Georgia, Nadia Frontier chats to five members of the team as they prepare their hand-made gifts, limber up for the station olympics, and think about friends and family at home.
Midwinter is celebrated every year on 21 June by all of the stations of different nations across the frozen South. This year, host Nadia is one of the nine intrepid winterers at KEP who will be marking their journey half way out of the dark.
Featured in this episode are: Winter Station Leader Cameron Fox-Clarke, Marine Biologist Katie Wells, Mechanical Maintenance Technician Ash Shinn, Doctor Tom Hubbard, and Boating Officer Louis Day.

S3 Ep10: Engineers of Antarctica, with Jonathan Witherstone & Jaskiran Nagi

British Antarctic Survey — Thu, 23 May 2024 08:00:00 +0000

From living beside a growing ice chasm, to signing up to live in Antarctica through dark Antarctic Winter - Jaskiran Nagi and Jonathan Witherstone are electronics engineers with a shared love of knowing how things work and being outdoors.
Jas chats about his work at Halley Research Station and maintaining the seismic instruments on the ice shelf there, and Jonathan reveals the surprisingly low-tech secrets behind maintaining comms in the snow at Rothera Research Station.
Iceworld is presented by marine biologist Nadia Frontier, produced in partnership with Boffin Media; cover photo by Dani Stewart.

S3: Fossil hunting and managing Antarctic mud, with the Seymour Island expedition team

British Antarctic Survey — Wed, 08 May 2024 05:40:00 +0000

Featuring ammonites shaped like giant paperclips, curry cooking in the field, and emergency mud liquidation techniques - this team of fossil hunters are fresh off their expedition to Antarctica's Seymour Island. Led by Dr Rowan Whittle from British Antarctic Survey (BAS), they want to understand how life on the Antarctic sea floor evolved over the last 100 million years.
Host Nadia Frontier chats to Rowan about leading her first major Antarctic expedition, along with team members Dr James Witts from the Natural History Museum, BAS paleobiologist Dr Saurav Dutta, and Field Guide Sam Hunt.
Iceworld is presented by marine biologist Nadia Frontier, produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

S3 Ep9: Watching wild weather in Antarctica, with Jo Cole

British Antarctic Survey — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Meteorologist Jo Cole chats to Nadia Frontier about fixing weather stations in remote locations, and seeing the sun return after Winter from the top of a mountain.
Being a meteorologist in Antarctica is a busy job! From launching weather balloons, to making hourly observations to support flights on the frozen continent, the information captured is important for safe operations *and* science.
Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

S3 Ep8: From Arran to Antarctica with Niall Macleod

British Antarctic Survey — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 09:00:00 +0000

In a conversation ranging from ice climbing to the trials of wearing a kilt in Antarctica, Nadia chats to Niall Macleod, the Plant Operator at Rothera Research Station through Antarctic Winter.
Niall's route to Antarctica was through agriculture, quarrying and civil engineering - before deciding that he wanted to do something for the environment. His job is to look after the research station's unusual machinery, and to keep the snow at bay as it blows through in the darkest period of the year. In his own words: he likes helping people.
This episode's Antarctic glossary:

'Snowcat' - a big truck on caterpillar tracks that can be used to clear snow or tow heavy loads.
'Scheds' - the high frequency radio communication set up at field camps so that the station can communicate with field parties.
'Smooth Operator' - the name of Niall's claimed climbing route... and tongue-in-cheek nickname for himself.

Iceworld is presented and recorded by Nadia Frontier, and produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

S3 Ep7: Leading polar expeditions, with Ed Luke and Matthew Shepherd

British Antarctic Survey — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 06:00:00 +0000

A field guide is one of the most highly skilled and varied jobs in Antarctica. From accompanying scientists on expeditions, training their colleagues to survive on the ice and fixing sledges, there's never a dull day.
Polar field guides Ed Luke and Matthew Shepherd talk to Nadia about life on the ice and extreme camping.
Produced in partnership with Boffin Media; cover photo by Ed Luke.

S3: Leadership and a life on the ice, with Professor Dame Jane Francis

British Antarctic Survey — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 06:00:00 +0000

How many people can say they've lost count of their visits to Antarctica? In this special International Women's Day episode, Professor Dame Jane Francis (Director of British Antarctic Survey) chats to Nadia about her journey into science, fossil hunting in Antarctic mud, launching the RRS Sir David Attenborough with Sir David Attenborough, and leading change.
Iceworld is presented by marine biologist Nadia Frontier, produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

S3 Ep6: Chefs of Antarctica, with Sadhbh Moore and Katy Rumm

British Antarctic Survey — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 06:00:00 +0000

Imagine cooking for 160 with only frozen, tinned and dried food... for a whole season. We all know the stomach is the route to the heart, so the meals need to feel fresh, nourishing and varied. Chefs might have the most important job at Rothera Research Station!
In this episode, Summer chef Sadhbh Moore chats to host Nadia Frontier about food sustainability, pickling and preserving, and channelling Hemsley + Hemsley. Winter Chef Katy talks about cooking with staff as the solo chef on station, her love of skiing, and the instinctive recipe adaptations that are part of being a chef in Antarctica.
Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

S3 Ep5: Ryan Mathews on diving and exploring in Antarctic Winter

British Antarctic Survey — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Ryan talks to host Nadia Frontier about the extraordinary experience of living in Antarctica through the dark winter - the adventures, the challenges, and preparing for the arrival of the summer community.
Ryan Mathews was the Marine Assistant at Rothera Research Station, where he works on scientific diving in Antarctica's icy waters, and in the on-site laboratory (The Bonner Lab).
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Produced in partnership with Boffin Media; cover photograph of Ryan Mathews by Marek Figielski.

S3 Ep4: Stu McManus on his journey to Antarctica as an electrician

British Antarctic Survey — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 14:26:54 +0000

Stu McManus was the Winter Electrician at Rothera Research Station in 2022 - and due to unforeseen circumstances, he was the only person responsible for electrics across the season. His first Antarctic job was at King Edward Point Research Station on South Georgia.
Stu talks to host Nadia Frontier about overcoming imposter syndrome, camping in the Antarctic wilderness, and how his career as an electrician has helped him travel around the world.
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In case you missed them, here's an explanation of some of the Antarctic jargon:

Vikings - an accommodation block at Rothera
Sky Blu - a fuel depot used to supply the aircraft carrying field parties
N2 - a mountain
Lagoon - an island south of Rothera
Dash - the larger aircraft BAS use

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Cover photograph of Stu McManus by Catherine Maguire. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

S4: A polar voyage into the New Year, with Captain Matt Neill and Jo Johnson

British Antarctic Survey — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 19:42:00 +0000

Featuring buried festive duck, the A23a megaberg, and the mysterious 'King Neptune's Court'. Nadia Frontier talks to Captain Matt Neill of the Royal Research Ship Sir David Attenborough from the Southern Ocean, and geologist and experienced Antarctic field scientist Jo Johnson.
Jo and Matt talk about how they mark special occasions while in the field and at sea, and what it's like to juggle family and travelling for work. What's it like to explore and study the remote frozen places where people have never been before?
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Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community.
A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

It's Christmas in Antarctica, with Aurelia Reichardt, Matt Hughes & Jo Cole

British Antarctic Survey — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 09:37:00 +0000

Featuring a missing frozen turkey, après-ski cinema, and Antarctic Secret Santa. Nadia Frontier talks to the team at Rothera Research Station about spending the festive season in Antarctica. How does this remote community make Christmas special while investigating climate change in Earth's frozen places?

Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

S3 Ep3: Joe Clay on small community living, and keeping the power on in Antarctica

British Antarctic Survey — Sat, 09 Dec 2023 14:59:29 +0000

Imagine being the person in charge of keeping the power on at a research base in Antarctica. That's Joe's job, no pressure. Joe Clay was the Generator Mechanic at Rothera Research Station during Antarctic Winter 2022.
Joe chats to host Nadia Frontier about finding his calling with an apprenticeship in the Merchant Navy, travelling the world as an engineer, and getting used to living in an extreme polar environment. Who inspired Joe to overcome his imposter syndrome for a job at British Antarctic Survey? And what exactly is the Gen Shed?

S3 Ep2: Allie Clement on scientific fishing and life as an Marine Assistant in Antarctica

British Antarctic Survey — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 11:30:34 +0000

Allie Clement chats to host Nadia Frontier about their work as a fisheries scientist at King Edward Point Research Station in South Georgia, and moving to Rothera Research Station as Dive Officer and Marine Assistant.
Allie talks about their journey into working as a fisheries scientist, the krill fishing industry, and what actually happens on a research trip. Why does Allie love working in Antarctica, and why did they decide to come back to work at Rothera?

S3 Ep1: Louis Day on boating in Antarctica and navigating ice

British Antarctic Survey — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 22:34:02 +0000

Louis Day was the Boating Officer at Rothera Research Station in 2022 - maintaining winter boating operations for marine biology, oceanography, and logistics around the station aged just 21 years old.

Host and marine biologist Nadia Frontier talks to Louis about boating and diving in Antarctica, Jack's life-long love of sailing, and how he ended up applying for the job. What does it take to keep operations running on the frozen continent? What did Louis have to do in the "sun-up ceremony" as the youngest member of the team? And why does there need to be a boat in the water when planes take off at Rothera Research Station?

When this episode published, Louis was sailing to King Edward Point Research Station on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, where he continued his position as wintering boating officer.

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The cover photo captures the youngest (Louis) and oldest member of the team (Phil) exchanging the Union Jack flag for the sun-up ceremony.

S2 Ep3: Crossing the Southern Ocean

British Antarctic Survey — Sat, 22 Jan 2022 01:47:37 +0000

In this episode, the James Clark Ross facilitates a summer field season at Signy Research Station at 60° South, squeezes through the Lemaire Channel at 65° S, crosses the Antarctic Circle at 66 °33 S and finally reaches Rothera Research Station at 67° South. We catch our first glimpses of icebergs, passing seals dozing on sheet ice pass rafts of penguins darting out of the water. There are strong feels of attachment towards the ship that has been home for the last two months but alas, our new home awaits!

S2 Ep2: Voyaging to South Georgia, with whales

British Antarctic Survey — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 10:00:00 +0000

The voyage of the James Clark Ross continues as the ship approaches its first stop after four week at sea, South Georgia at 54° South. On the way we hear tales of humpback whales, wandering albatross and excited talks of sighting a blue whale.

S2 Ep1: How did people get to Antarctica in a pandemic?

British Antarctic Survey — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 02:33:03 +0000

The RRS James Clark Ross set sail from Harwich on 4th November 2020 with a group composed of the British Antarctic Survey staff and ship’s crew.

It was a rare opportunity for those due to take up positions in Antarctic research stations when their first two month of the job begin with being confined to a ship for eight weeks.

You can find out more about Antarctic research and logistics by visiting the British Antarctic Survey's Website or by listening to future episodes of this podcast 🎵

I hope you enjoy this eclectic mix of short interviews. Such a voyage was an unique experience for many and stands in stark contrast to the familiarity of a casual kayak trip, or a day out on a dingy.

Disclosure- I am new to podcasting and this is my first episode therefore the sound is all over the place, clipping etc. sorry if you’ve adjusted your volume many times. This is the first episode of the 2022 series.

S1 Ep6: Amazing underwater Antarctica, with Aurelia Reichardt, Nadescha Zwerschke and Calum Stronach

British Antarctic Survey — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 14:47:58 +0000

Blue carbon capture, cold water gigantism, iceberg scouring, algal blooms…this episode covers a lot of ground! Rothera Field Guide Rob Taylor speaks with Aurelia Reichardt, Nadescha Zwerschke and Calum Stronach about how the cold Antarctic waters support so much life.

S1 Ep5: Prem Gill on spotting Antarctic seals from space

British Antarctic Survey — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 20:00:00 +0000

Rob Taylor is joined by Prem Gill, who has just completed two weeks of fieldwork as part of his PhD looking at seals from space. Find out why investigating how much light different Antarctic seal species reflect is critical to understanding how they might respond to future climate change.

S1 Ep4: Josh Eveson on studying the atmosphere at Halley Research Station

British Antarctic Survey — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 13:57:36 +0000

Atmospheric Chemist Josh Eveson joins Rob Taylor to talk about the atmosphere and weather research taking place at Halley Research Station.

More than 30 years after the hole in the ozone layer was first discovered, we find out why the instrument used to discover it is still useful today and what a normal week of research looks like for Josh at one of the most remote research stations in the world.

S1 Ep3: Isobel Rowell & Dieter Tetzner on using ice cores to study past climate

British Antarctic Survey — Sun, 16 Feb 2020 02:26:03 +0000

Rob Taylor

S1 Ep2: Weather forecasting in Antarctica, with Catherine Maguire & John Law

British Antarctic Survey — Sun, 17 Nov 2019 17:27:37 +0000

Host and field guide Rob Taylor talks to Catherine Maguire and John Law from the meteorology team who work at Rothera Research Station, where they put together daily forecasts for flight operations, boating and science.

S1 Ep1: Elena Field on mapping Antarctica

British Antarctic Survey — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 02:37:36 +0000

Elena Field works in the Mapping and GIS (or MAGIC) team at British Antarctic Survey. She talks to host Rob Taylor about how you actually go about making and maintaining maps and data of Antarctica. What are the challenges of this work and how does it differ from mapping elsewhere on Earth?