Katie Kerpel

What’s the work that you do?

I am currently the broadcast engineer at McMurdo Station but I am an illustrator and artist by trade. In this position, I support the moral of the station- I play movies daily, make sure the tv and radio channels are working and train people to be radio DJs. It may not seem impressive, especially in the age of streaming media, but in a place where the internet can still be frustratingly slow, our tv stations are much more reliable. In my off-time, I boost moral in artistic ways: I have created murals and had art shows around station, which brighten up otherwise sterile environments.

What keeps you going?

There is always a chance to learn something new here. I’ve had opportunities where I can talk to scientists one on one, as well as learn from tradesmen on how the station operates. Through my job, I get to learn about people’s tastes in music and film. As an artist, this is truly an inspiring place. I’m constantly in awe whenever I am outside and the landscapes have proven to be amazing muses.

What’s your message to the world?

Community is everything. Being supportive and open to the ones around you makes all the difference. You never know what anyone is going through or what mood they are in, so always err on the side of kindness.