Amelia Rudd, PhD

What’s the work that you do?

I’m a polar guide operating in Antarctica, Greenland, Norway and Arctic Sweden. Through remote expeditions, I show people the fragile environments of the Arctic and Antarctic, introducing them to issues of climate, Indigenous culture, and the importance of the high latitudes to our planet and everyday lives. This is often connected with collecting data for science – I’ve been on expedition with citizen scientists researching black carbon in glacial ice both in Antarctica and on Svalbard. I’ve also taken part in research as a subject for psychology in remote environments (Dr Nathan Smith) and metabolism in extreme expeditions (Prof Chris Imray), helping scientists better understand how humans function in remote and extreme places. Finally, I also work with a charity called 2041 Schools, which produces free resources to help educate the next generation about Antarctica.

What keeps you going?

I love seeing people not just survive but thrive and flourish in a polar environment. Sharing these incredible places with people who will go home with a new appreciation of nature and its raw power is very rewarding.

What’s your message to the world?

Polar expeditions not only change individual lives, but have the power to change collective consciousness about the importance of these fragile lands and communities. Full immersion in the landscape, skiing and camping for many days or weeks at a time, offers a unique perspective, becoming part of the polar story, as well as just observing it.