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Most Recent Dispatches


Sizing Up the Dragon

MCMURDO STATION, ANTARCTICA-- “Have your bags ready.” Everyday it seems we are on hold to leave for the sea ice. Our team is anxious to set up field camp. We are days behind schedule in our expedition. We’ve had set back after set back...



Fishing in Antarctic Waters?

MOSS LANDING, CALIFORNIA-- The morning of July 11th was the culmination of the conference: I finally presented my Antarctic toothfish work...



Indigenous Knowledge in Modern Polar Science

MOSS LANDING, CALIFORNIA-- In conjunction with the surge of social science projects in this year’s IPY, SCAR hosted a novel session on “The role of Indigenous Knowledge in Modern Polar Science.” The presenters stressed giving traditional knowledge and indigenous people a voice in managing their own land, resources and fate in the future of climate change...



Antarctic Waste Management

MCMURDO STATION, ANTARCTICA-- Here I interview James Van Matre, Waste Management Supervisor at McMurdo Station. We talk about Antarctica's waste management practices of the past and present, and why it's important to recycle...



Firefighter Howie

MCMURDO STATION, ANTARCTICA-- Today I had the opportunity to interview Lieutenant Mosher of the McMurdo Station Fire Department. He gave me a tour of the whole firehouse and showed me all the fire trucks they use...



Journey

MCMURDO STATION, ANTARCTICA-- If you think all scientists are confined to the sterile environment of a lab, you’d be ill-informed. Science can take you around the world, to see places and things unimaginable.



A Gorgeous Day at McMurdo

MCMURDO STATION, ANTARCTICA-- The last couple of days have been really busy down here at McMurdo. I’ve been going through a lot of training sessions and have had many meetings with our team. We’ve been trying to get all of our equipment together for the long journey across the sea ice...



Believers

MCMURDO STATION, ANTARCTICA-- They keep asking, “Are you with the group that’s traversing the sea ice?” When they ask, they have this look -- a look that says, “ouch.” These are the old school Antarctic guys, the “winter over” people...



Our Chariot Awaits

MCMURDO STATION, ANTARCTICA-- After an early start for breakfast in Christchurch, New Zealand, I went to the Clothing Distribution Center (CDC) before most of the Team to turn in my excess baggage: the camera equipment provided by the Exploratorium for Ice Stories...



Geared Up and Ready to Fly

CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND-- Things have been a bit on edge here in Christchurch over the last few days or so. The problem has been the bad weather down at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. And all talk revolves around flight schedules...