Krista Myers, MSc

What’s the work that you do?

I am the lead field technician for the MCM LTER Meteorology and Physical Limnology Team, and I work in the McMurdo Dry Valleys. I maintain long term datasets, which includes weather stations, lake monitoring stations, and time lapse cameras to monitor landscape and ecosystem changes. In addition to research, I am also leading the new MCM LTER Sustainability Committee which empowers scientists to collectively brainstorm ways to make our fieldwork more sustainable. Our motto is: Less emissions. Less waste. More science!

What keeps you going?

Antarctica is my happy place – after 6 seasons it feels like home. However, the work is demanding (both physically and mentally). I stay motivated by reminding myself that the climate data I collect will be used for generations to come. Also, I am a goofy person and having fun is important. We have had a few bands throughout the years, and this past season we had a 5 person dance troop. It takes a certain type of person to want to work in Antarctica, and lucky for me, those are my favorite people to be around!

What’s your message to the world?

Polar scientists understand climate change better than most, and yet we tend to ignore how our own research contributes to it. All it takes is one field season to see how many resources and fossil fuels are used to do research in Antarctica. I used to think that as an Antarctic scientist, my work made up for this, however my mindset has shifted. Climate data is invaluable, but I don’t think more data alone will solve our problem – we need to also talk about climate solutions. A big part of that is getting off fossil fuels, and we need to ‘walk the walk’ by decarbonizing our beloved icy workplace as much as possible. The polar community has a unique role in addressing climate change, and at this point actions speak louder than words.