María Liliana Quartino, PhD
Discipline: Marine Biology (macroalgae)
Age: 59
Nationality: Argentina
Organisation: Instituto Antártico Argentino
Regional focus: Antarctica
Social media: ResearchGate and Instagram
What’s the work that you do?
I have been working on Antarctic macroalgae since 1988. I lead a research group at the Argentine Antarctic Institute that studies high-latitude coastal ecosystems with an emphasis on macroalgae and their role in global change. For years, we have been investigating the macroalgae of the Potter Cove coastal ecosystem, an ecosystem greatly affected by glacial retreat. In our laboratory, we are developing different studies on subtidal and intertidal macroalgae taxonomy, ecology, and ecophysiology in relation to physical variables in a climate change frame (i.e., glacier retreat, sedimentation, fast ice duration, ice scouring) and their impact on the coastal Antarctic food web.
What keeps you going?
Since I was a child, I’ve had a special fascination for everything related to nature and a very special connection with the sea. I dreamed of being a marine biologist. Currently, what keeps me going is continuing to guide and accompany young Ph.D students and junior researchers from the IAA.
What’s your message to the world?
For me, working in Antarctica goes beyond the fascinating experience of doing research in a remote and magical place. After 35 years of studies there, I am convinced of the great responsibility involved in conducting research in this pristine and vulnerable environment, where the effects of climate change are increasingly severe. I also believe that it is valuable to study marine organisms such as macroalgae, which also implies collaborating in their preservation since they are primary producers that contribute to the mitigation of climate change.
Arzu Bal, MSc
Discipline: Policy and transportation
Age: 25
Nationality: Turkey
Organisation: Karadeniz Technical University (Turkey)
Regional focus: Arctic
Social media: Website and Instagram
What’s the work that you do?
I am currently working on LNG ship traffic in the Arctic region of Russia. I am conducting a study on the melting of glaciers caused by climate change on the Northern Sea Route and the impact of more active use of this route on future LNG ship traffic. In this context, I am examining the LNG tanker ships arriving at the Russian port of Sabetta over a 5-year period.
What keeps you going?
First of all, I think that academic studies keep people more active and fit. At this point, I believe that working on a topic that excites a person increases one’s productivity even more. The polar regions are unlike any other region of the world and arouse curiosity. It’s almost like an ore waiting to be discovered and explored. For this reason, working in this field motivates me.
What’s your message to the world?
The world is like a treasure map that is presented to us. Every continent, every region, every ocean and every country is waiting to be explored, to be studied. Those who explore can mature and grow in their discoveries. And generally, you can treat nature in two ways. The first is by harming and exploiting it. The second, by exploring and learning about it, and then trying to put what we discover to sustainable use. We should choose the latter.
Nelia Dunbar, PhD
Discipline: Geology
Age: 60
Nationality: USA
Organisation: New Mexico Tech (USA)
Regional focus: Antarctica
Social media: LinkedIn and website
What’s the work that you do?
I am a geologist. I’ve been working on active volcanism and interactions between volcanoes and ice in Antarctica since 1983. This work has involved extensive, remote field work on Antarctic volcanoes. One thread of study focuses on active volcanism, which provides insight into how volcanoes work, helping to understand and predict volcanic eruptions. I also carry out field mapping and sampling of volcanic deposits, and examining volcanic ash deposits in blue ice fields and deep ice cores drilled through the Antarctic ice sheets. This work informs us about ice sheet history and past ice sheet thickness.
What keeps you going?
I am at my best and happiest when living in a tent camp, with a small field team, in remote parts of Antarctica. The beauty, mystery and wildness of Antarctica are an incredible inspiration, as is doing field work on remote volcanoes and being the first people to visit and examine the rock outcrops that allow us to discover the volcanoes’ history. Living in this remote environment, and being able to focus all of my energy on geology, and basic living, is an incredibly luxury in an increasingly busy and distracting world.
What’s your message to the world?
When you get a chance to do something adventurous or exciting, like going on a trip to Antarctica, just say yes! Focus on the positive, and go for it.
Anna Osiecka, MSc
Discipline: Bioacoustics
Age: 33
Nationality: Poland
Organisation: University of Gdańsk (Poland) & University of Copenhagen (Denmark)
Regional focus: Arctic
Social media: ResearchGate and Twitter
What’s the work that you do?
I study the vocal behaviour of marine birds and mammals. My main interests lie in what information can be coded in vocalisations (e.g., sex, ID, emotional state), and how it can be coded (e.g., frequency or time domain, or perhaps maintaining or losing the rhythm). I also try to do some work to improve equity and achieve **proper pay to the workers** in STEM.
What keeps you going?
I LOVE the fieldwork, and I truly love writing. Love it. Nothing can beat being out in nature with my amazing animals. But I also really enjoy working with people – the great company of curious, bright people who share this passion. But funds, colleagues and life can also be tricky, so I am lucky to also live and breathe roller derby.
What’s your message to the world?
First of all, pay your staff fair money – that includes students, interns and the field folks – and treat them as the full, complex humans they are, not your simplified idea of a colleague! Also, I think we in polar research should put so much more effort into strengthening collaborations, maximising data output and use, and limiting our footprint – be it the tons of plastic and animal produce brought to the field, or the frequent trips that could be limited via better research networks. There’s room to do better.
Sarah Child, PhD
Discipline: Enviromental Management
Age: 42
Nationality: New Zealand
Organisation: Antarctica New Zealand
Regional focus: Antarctica
Social media: LinkedIn
What’s the work that you do?
I work for the New Zealand Antarctic program heading up the Policy, Environment and Safety team. We ensure that New Zealand maintains high standards of health and safety and environmental management in all of our activities in Antarctica. I am also New Zealand’s Representative to the Committee for Environmental Protection and the expert group leader of the Council of Manager of National Antarctic Programs Environmental Protection Group supporting and enhancing protection of Antarctica through policy fora.
What keeps you going?
I am incredibly lucky to work with so many likeminded people who want to better understand and ensure the long term protection of one piece of this earth that is still relatively untouched and intact. It is really special to be able to work peacefully with so many different countries who share an interest in Antarctica and work towards agreement even when we might not agree.
What’s your message to the world?
When we work together, powerful things can happen.
Anaïs Rémont
Discipline: Law and policy
Age: 29
Nationality: France
Organisation: ANCORS at University of Wollongong (Australia)
Regional focus: Antarctic
Social media: Instagram and LinkedIn
What’s the work that you do?
My background is in international environmental law. I am funded by the Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future project, led by a consortium of Australian Universities and collaborating with other universities around the world. I am at the very beginning of my PhD journey and my research question needs to be defined further. The main idea is to work on interconnections between international ocean governance and climate change issues, considering the concept of ocean commons. I want to explore interactions and synergies between legal regimes that protect the ocean, with a specific focus on the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. It includes the Antarctic Treaty System, the Rio Conventions on biodiversity and climate and finally the more recent one, the Treaty on Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Juristdiction. I am particularly interested in the most efficient level of governance to have better and the most dynamic implementation of these conventions.
What keeps you going?
I strongly believe that we definitly need to build bridges between decision-makers and researchers. Since the establishment of the IPCC and more recently the IPBES, we know that anthropogenic pressures in wild spaces like Antarctica and the high seas and on biodiversity in a broader sense due to climate change threats are increasing at an alarming rate. At the end of the day, it touches on the most basic fundamental right of each creature on this planet: the right to live a life with respect and dignity, reaching for happiness. This is not an abstract concept but a very concrete one, implying the right to a healthy environment. Now is the time to change the world dynamics and move towards a fairer world while respecting the principles of ecological solidarity, equity and inter-generational justice to preserve the viability of the world not only for our generation but also for the coming ones!
What’s your message to the world?
You are doing your best in your own unique way, so be gentle with yourself.
Sienna Blanckensee
Discipline: Oceanography
Age: 23
Nationality: Australia
Organisation: The University of Queensland (Australia)
Regional focus: Antarctic
Social media: Instagram and LinkedIn
What’s the work that you do?
I am a PhD student currently working on Antarctic Bottom Water. This is water formed in Antarctica that sinks to the sea floor and drives global circulation. My research focuses on determining what criteria is needed for this water mass to form and how this might change in the future, or how it has already changed in the past. I do this by using observational data from ships, moorings, argo floats and my favourite – seals. Small sensors are attached to seals’ heads and this allows us to get data in hard-to-reach places that are integral for my research.
What keeps you going?
I have always had an interest in Antarctica as I believe it is truly a magical place. The fact that I get to contribute towards our greater understanding of the region keeps me going. I also enjoy that the more you learn about something, the more you realise what we don’t know. It’s like a big puzzle piece that many people work on together, slowly creating a clearer picture. Contributing to this greater goal is a daily inspiration.
What’s your message to the world?
Our polar regions deserve everything we can do to help, whether that be via research, policy making, science communication etc. So, get out there, meet new people, share your interests, and follow your passions.