Iceworld

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.

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

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.

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. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

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.

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). --- Produced in partnership with Boffin Media; cover photograph of Ryan Mathews by Marek Figielski.

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. --- In case you missed them, here's an explanation of some of the Antarctic jargon: VikingsSky BluN2LagoonDash --- Cover photograph of Stu McManus by Catherine Maguire. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

Featuring buried festive duck, the A23a megaberg, and the mysterious 'King Neptune's Court'. What's it like to explore and study the remote frozen places where people have never been before? 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. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

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.

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?

Alice Clement chats to host Nadia Frontier about her 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. Alice talks about her journey into working as a fisheries scientist, the krill fishing industry, and what actually happens on a research trip. Why does Alice love working in Antarctica, and why did she decide to come back to work at Rothera?

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Rob Taylor

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.